Operation Motel was a Zimbabwe-Rhodesian military operation in Zambia with clandestine assistance from the South African Air Force (SAAF) during the Rhodesian Bush War. The Rhodesian Air Force planned raids against a ZIPRA camp in Northern Zambia.

Operation Motel
Part of the Rhodesian Bush War
Location
Zambia

Operation Motel is located in Zambia
Lusaka
Lusaka
Solwezi
Solwezi
Operation Motel (Zambia)
ObjectiveDestroy ZIPRA camp in Northern Zambia.
Date23 August 1979

Operation

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The operation consisted of two raids on a ZIPRA camp on 23 August 1979. The Rhodesian and South African Canberra bombers and Hawker Hunter strike aircraft took off at 09h40 for Operation Motel I with the aircraft forming over Victoria Falls before conducting a low-level bombing attack on a camp 32 km south of Solwezi in Northern Zambia.[1]: Ch5 

Aftermath

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See also: Operation Motel II

The same formation left again for Operation Motel II at 15h30 for another attack on the same target and the aircraft returned to base with one of the SAAF Canberra bombers was damaged by friendly fire after taking shrapnel from bomb explosions.[1]: Ch5 

References

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  1. ^ a b Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledgling to Eagle. The South African Airforce during the Border War. Solihull, England: Helion & Company. ISBN 9781908916624.

Further reading

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  • Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledgling to Eagle. The South African Airforce during the Border War (Kindle ed.). Solihull, England: Helion & Company. ISBN 9781908916624.
  • Moorcraft, Paul; McLaughlin, Peter (2011). The Rhodesian War. A Military History (3rd ed.). Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 9781848845220.
  • Geldenhuys, Preller (13 July 2007). Rhodesian Air Force Operations with Air Strike Log. Durban, South Africa: Just Done Productions Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920169-61-9.