picture 172310

The SAAF was the only export customer for the Blackburn Buccaneer S.50 strike fighter. While 16 were acquired in the mid-1960s, their attrition was heavy, and fewer than a dozen remained operational with No. 24 Squadron by the time of attack on Cassinga. All were painted in mirage grey (BS381C/638) on upper surfaces and PRU Blue (BS381C/636) on undersurfaces. A few had most of the upper surfaces of their forward fuselage painted in black and very few retained their full national insignia and the unit patch, as shown in this illustration of the example that played a crucial role during the nal stage of the attack on the SWAPO/PLAN camp in Cassinga. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)