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The Tragedy of Air Rhodesia Viscounts: Shot Down by Russian Missiles

Milton Bell

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Published in Murder In The Zambezi: The Story Of The Air Rhodesia Viscounts Shot Down By Russian Made Missiles

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On September 3, 1978 and February 12, 1979, two Air Rhodesia Viscount aircraft were shot down by Russian-made surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) fired by Zimbabwean nationalist guerrillas. The attacks, which killed a total of 105 people, were part of the Rhodesian Bush War, a conflict between the white-minority government of Rhodesia and black nationalist guerrilla groups.

The First Attack

The first attack occurred on September 3, 1978, when Air Rhodesia Flight 825 was shot down by a SAM near Kariba, Rhodesia. The aircraft was carrying 56 passengers and crew, including 10 children. All 56 people on board were killed.

Murder in the Zambezi: The story of the Air Rhodesia Viscounts shot down by Russian-made missiles

by Ian Pringle

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The attack was claimed by the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA),one of the two main guerrilla groups fighting against the Rhodesian government. ZANLA said that it had targeted the aircraft because it was carrying white civilians and military personnel.

The Second Attack

The second attack occurred on February 12, 1979, when Air Rhodesia Flight 827 was shot down by a SAM near Salisbury, Rhodesia. The aircraft was carrying 59 passengers and crew, including 15 children. All 59 people on board were killed.

The attack was also claimed by ZANLA. ZANLA said that it had targeted the aircraft because it was carrying white civilians and military personnel.

The Aftermath

The two attacks on Air Rhodesia Viscounts were some of the most significant events of the Rhodesian Bush War. The attacks shocked the white-minority government and led to increased international pressure for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

In 1980, Rhodesia became independent as the Republic of Zimbabwe. The Rhodesian Bush War ended, and the country has since been ruled by black nationalist governments.

The Victims

The 105 people who were killed in the two Air Rhodesia Viscount attacks were from a variety of backgrounds. They included white civilians, black civilians, and military personnel. Many of the victims were children.

The families of the victims have never forgotten their loved ones. They have worked to keep the memory of the attacks alive and to ensure that the victims are never forgotten.

The Legacy

The Air Rhodesia Viscount attacks were a tragedy that had a profound impact on Rhodesia and Zimbabwe. The attacks helped to bring about the end of the Rhodesian Bush War and the establishment of a black nationalist government in Zimbabwe.

The attacks also serve as a reminder of the human cost of war. The victims of the attacks were innocent people who were killed simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The memory of the Air Rhodesia Viscount attacks should never be forgotten. The attacks are a reminder of the importance of peace and the need to resolve conflicts peacefully.

Murder in the Zambezi: The story of the Air Rhodesia Viscounts shot down by Russian-made missiles

by Ian Pringle

4.6 out of 5