Miguel wrote:
Hello everyone
First I'd like to say that I'm a C-130 lover. I think it is the most incredible plane of any time. I've been looking for info about the C-130 in combat worldwide (hard task since C-130 had been widely deployed), and I found that during the Angola Bush War, on april 1986 a SAAF C-130 was hit by a FAPA-DAA Mig-23ML or Mig-21MF.
I've found some versions about this incident and I'd like you help me to clarify this matter.
According to
Cuban Air-to-Air Victories the C-130 was hit with 23mm gunfire by a Mig-21MF
According to Mr Tom Cooper, on
ACIG Forum a FAPA-DAA MiG-23ML flown by one of most experienced DAAFAR pilots in Angola intercepted a South African C-130 and fired two R-24R missiles. One missile missed; the other scored a direct hit at the left wing, right in between the two engines there. But, that missile failed to detonate.
According to Angolan and Russian sources this C-130 was lost in the incident, but according to Mr. Tom Cooper, the C-130 got back to one of forward airfields used by the SAAF in the then South-West Africa (now Namibia)
I'd like to know what was the fate of the C-130 involved in this incident. Pilot name, serial number, AFB name (if proceed). etc.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards
Miguel
My father was the commander of the C-130 that they claim to have shot down on April 4th, 1986. If you can locate a copy of From Fledgling to Eagle (Dick Lord's book)... the story is in there... its called '28 Squadron 'Long Drop'' on page 374.
I can safely assure you that the aircraft was not shot down... as my father is alive and well today, but that the missile did indeed pass VERY close to the C-130, so close infact that the crew could smell the exhaust gases from the missile in the air conditioning system. My dad then made a radio transmission to the lead aircraft (he was flyin number 2 in the formo), says 'I'm going down!'.. meaning he was going to a lower, and safer altitude and they descended to 200 ft AGL. We can only assume the Angolans picked up the transmission and assumed it meant he was crashing. We have the news paper clipping from the 7th with the header 'SADF denies its plane shot by Angola'.
Pilots name- Major Adrian Woodley. I do not know where the drop was... in fact I dont even think my dad does anymore. Fate of a/c - recovered safely to AFB Rundu for an inspection and found no damage at all, then proceeded back to AFB Waterkloof.