May 4, 1978 · Huíla province, southern Angola Theater
May 4, 1978
South African paratroopers dropped on the settlement of Cassinga, deep inside Angola, in a raid on what Pretoria called a SWAPO guerrilla base and the target's defenders called a refugee camp. Hundreds were killed — the dispute over whether they were fighters or refugees remains bitter to this day — and Cuban forces racing to the scene were caught in South African fire.
Commanders