National Experiences - British Commission for Military History

do C t r i n e, Ca pa C i t i e s, te C H n o l o g y a n d o p e r at i o n a l en v i r o n m e n t o n t H e em p l o y m e n t o f t H e air po w e r ; t H e Ca s e o f guerrilla wa r fa r e 233
Since mid-1960 that the Negage airfield was being built, located about 135 nautical
miles east-northeast of Luanda. On 7th February 1961 the first landing of an
Auster and a NORD takes place here, although the airfield facilities were concluded
only in September that year. This military airfield, already legally constituted, was
named as AB3 (aerodrome base number 3).
On March 15, 1961 a brutal offensive is started by human waves armed with
machetes and “canhangulos” (artisanal rifle) against towns and farms in the districts
of Zaire, Uige and Cuanza Norte, particularly Quibaxe, Vista Alegre, Aldeia Viçosa,
Quitexe, Quicabo, New Caipemba, Nambuangongo, Zala, Quibala, Bessa Monteiro,
Madimba, Canda, M, bridge, Buela, and others. The rebels killed thousands of
people, all civilians, including more than a thousand whites. Many of these places
were occupied by the attackers, while the resident population escaped. Elsewhere the
population was able to resist and stay, providing authentic strongholds which were
permanently threatened with no possibility of escape and trying to survive. This action
spread panic across the region, which led to an almost total exodus of resident
population, even those who had not been threatened yet.
Light aircraft, civil and military, proceeded to the transport of fleeing terrified
people, concentrating at the aerodrome of Negage, where an airlift to Luanda was
organized for around 3,500 people, essentially with NORD ATLAS planes.
On March 16, the first paratroopers company arrives in Luanda by airplane and
is immediately deployed to the area of operations. The paratroopers had been constituted
in 1956 under the Air Force, initially at battalion level (over the following
years, the organization expanded to form a regiment in the mainland, battalions in
three theatres of war and finally as Corps, alrea dy after the war in Africa, integrated
into the structure of the Portuguese Air Force; they are currently integrated into the
Army).
The military response to the chaotic situation caused by the offensive of March
15 is made with the few forces available in which the aircraft means played a relevant
role in support of civilian populations and land forces, and in reconnaissance
and strike flights against the rebel forces.
On April 21 the first contingent of ground forces goes to Angola which will enhance
the existing units. Three days before more paratroopers had depar ted from
Portugal to Angola by airway, and on May 8, No. 21 Paratrooper Battalion, based in
Luanda, is formed.
Prior to March 15 ground forces in Angola were just two regiments, one based in
Luanda, one in New Lisbon, another group of Cavalry based in Silva Porto – considering
the dimensions of the territory, and in particular the area affected by actions
of extreme violence, these forces were too short and were relatively displaced out of
the area of operations.
The guerrilla attacks continued but not as intensely as in mid-March, now more
selecti ve or specific, such as the attack on Úcua with the massacre of 13 white, or