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The Rhodesian Bush War

Rhodesian Bush War – The Air War (1966–1980) Between 1966 and 1980, Rhodesia fought a protracted and bitter conflict against two nationalist insurgent movements—ZANLA and ZIPRA—in what became known as the Rhodesian Bush War. While most accounts focus on the ground war, this documentary examines the critical and often overlooked role of air power in Rhodesia’s survival strategy. Despite a shrinking economy, international isolation, and an arms embargo, the Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) managed to field a surprisingly capable combat force through improvisation, innovation, and ruthless efficiency. We explore how the RhAF employed a mix of ageing aircraft—such as the Hawker Hunter, Canberra bomber, and C-47 Dakota—in a variety of combat roles: ground attack, airlift, close air support, and airborne commando insertion. The creation of Fireforce—an air-mobile rapid reaction tactic—was a game-changing development, allowing helicopter-borne troops and paratroopers to be inserted within minutes of a sighting, with fixed-wing air support overhead. This video also covers the challenges of operating under embargo, Rhodesia’s secret procurement networks, and modifications made to ageing aircraft to extend their combat utility. The impact of Soviet- and Chinese-supplied weapons to insurgent groups, including SAMs and land mines, shaped the conflict's later stages, forcing further adaptations in RhAF operations. We examine the role of air bases, the employment of indigenous innovation, the use of aerial reconnaissance, and the unique counterinsurgency environment that shaped Rhodesian air doctrine. While the war ultimately ended in political transition and majority rule, the Rhodesian air war remains a case study in tactical improvisation under resource constraints, with many of its lessons studied long after the conflict ended. 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." Comment below and let us know your thoughts or personal connections to this story. Support the Channel Join our Members & Merch shop for ad-free early access, exclusive military-themed discounts, and more perks: https://peacemaker.fashion Check out our popular playlist of air campaigns    • Operation OKRA   ____________ Disclaimer ____________ Some original footage and recreated scenes (using simulators like DCS and War Thunder) may not be 100% accurate to the events depicted. They have been used for illustrative and dramatic purposes where archival footage was unavailable or restricted by copyright. We aim to remain as historically accurate as possible given the available resources. Copyright Notice: This video may contain copyrighted material used under the "fair dealing" provisions (ss 40/103C, ss 41/103A, ss 42/103B) of the Australian Copyright Act for purposes of research, study, criticism, review, and news reporting. All copyrights remain with their respective owners. Our videos are created for educational and historical documentation purposes. About Us: We create documentaries, interviews, and video essays focused on Australian and international military aviation history. Our channel explores the stories of military aircraft, fighter pilots, air battles, and the evolution of air power from WWI to today. Subscribe for new aviation history videos every week.