Episode 56 – SWAPO takes aim at the Kaokoland and 32 Battalion hit by SAAF friendly fire

December 1981 brought the usual debriefings and analysis about how the border war was progressing, particularly after a year that saw such highs and lows for the SADF. However, before the end of the year, The SADF ordered another small operation called Vlinder to hit the area near Evale over the cutline. In one of the final acts of the year, troops were in contact with SWAPO armed with SA-7 missiles and RPGs near the town. One of the SADF troops was hit by shrapnel from an 82mm mortar and was in a serious condition. He needed to be casevaced out. Lieutenant Arthur Walker led a two-ship Alouette formation to the scene and provided top cover for Lieutenant Serge Bovey who was to carry out the pickup. Walker was going to earn another Honoris Crux as he heroically landed to save his colleagues. So, the new year, 1982, began with the enemy demonstrating an aggressive intent – and some bad news for the SA Air Force which was going to get worse before the month was out. Politically this was also the year that the country was supposed to march towards independence, and its name would be changed to South West Africa/Namibia, or SWA/NAMIBIA.