Episode 14 – The assault on Benguela and its airport

This is episode 14 – the assault on the port city of Benguela its airport which was not going to be easy as you’ll hear. As the South African Task Force Zulu approached the city they continued mopping up towns as they went. Near Caimbado a group of Portuguese police appeared who were part of the interim government. They warned Commandant Jan Breytenbach of Battle Group Bravo that there there was an MPLA unit in some of the Caimbado houses. Part of the group was sent south to secure the approach to the town while the rest entered. Major Toon Slabbert was driving point in his camouflaged armoured car when a strange event took place. The FAPLA commander rushed out of a building, rifle in hand, and greeted Slabbert like a long lost brother. He obviously thought that Slabbert was a Cuban commander– although the Major was famous for his bright red hair and beard which is not the look that can be called Cuban.