National Experiences - British Commission for Military History

232 ai r p o w e r in 20 t H Ce n t u ry do C t r i n e s a n d em p l o y m e n t - nat i o n a l ex p e r i e n C e s
This strange situation became very tense at the site, with rumours about the creation
of groups of local agitators, and the confrontation with the authorities by large
masses. The positions adopted by these populations resulted from two influences,
that joined forces in the end: political propaganda fostered by movements based
in Congo, with a contagious effect that caused, and religious fanatics of a sect also
spread in several areas in Africa; the basic ideas of these two sources merged to produce
a sentiment of revolt that would lead to acts of complete paroxysm.
The ground forces available, which were scarce, immediately rushed in an attempt
to impose order. The outbreaks of disorder spread in the same moulds, to other
populations in an area that is designated by “Baixa do Cassange”. The military reaction
that followed the revolt calmed down the spirits; the agitators, of strange ethnic
origins, disappeared, and the region became peaceful after about two weeks.
Until this situation was reached, the ground forces felt strongly threatened, using
force and producing casualties. Not only the military forces, but certain segments of
the population and police forces, felt in situations of large peril. As a result of the
inevitable confrontations military forces suffered relatively small casualties, and the
civilian casualties were about two hundred.
The aircraft in this scenario acted primarily through actions of reconnaissance,
transportation of supplies and ammunition, as well as attack in dramatic situations,
when the human masses in a trance seemed to surround civilians and military ground
units. All this emergency action takes place without communications between aircraft
and land forces and without patterned proceedings of air to ground cooperation
and airspace management.
By the time of the events in Baixa do Cassange, the only military airfield in Angola
was in Luanda. The aircraft parked there were 11 PV2, maritime patrol aircraft
adapted to operations in air land environments, 7 NORDATLAS transport planes,
4 light aircraft DO-27 and 4 BROUSSARD and some T-6G (to be deployed to the
NEGAGE airfield, as we will see later). In that month of January 1961, the PV2
aircraft were engaged in 38 mis sions and in an identical number in February, broken
down by independent strike actions, attacks in close support of ground forces and
populations, air recon missions and medical evacuation. The NORDATLAS conducted
19 missions in January in and 34 missions in February transporting personnel
and cargo.
At the end of 1960, 4 Auster light aircraft used in visual reconnaissance actions,
airborne command post, cargo transportation, medical evacuation, had been deployed
to Carmona, near the future airfield of Negage landing on makeshift runways.
During the events at the Baixa do Cassange these four aircraft accomplished around
200 flying hours, searching for and detecting rebel movements, guiding the ground
forces in an extremely primary way, given the lack of air/ground communication,
providing food, ammunition and mail to the besieged forces. On the 6th February
two of these aircraft are deployed to Malange for the same type of air activity.