The Rhodesian Bush War
In this third episode of our “First Strike” series, we dive into the aerial dimension of the Rhodesian Bush War—a brutal and complex conflict from 1965 to 1980, where a small, isolated nation faced overwhelming odds. From daring cross-border raids to innovative Fireforce tactics, we explore how the Rhodesian Air Force, flying aging but effective aircraft like the Lynx, Hunter, and Canberra, played a pivotal role in counterinsurgency operations against Soviet- and Chinese-backed guerrillas. Witness the tactics, operations, and outcomes of a war fought with ingenuity in the skies above Africa.
CONTENTS
00:00 Introduction
00:50 Background
04:48 Rhodesian Air Forces
05:24 War in Two Phases
06:19 War Begins – 1965
08:18 Phase Two – 1971
10:02 Major Ops 1976
12:31 November 1977
14:23 Operation Gatling 1978
19:20 Operation Vanity 1979
21:11 Operation Uric 1979 – detailed
36:54 Uric aftermath
38:16 End of conflict
41:48 Conclusion
Correction:
02:13 should read “…23,000 from other countries and ethnicities.”
Credit to : Australian Military Aviation History