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The then newly developed Ratel ZT3 had a ‘black box’ which recorded crew actions when the missile system was selected – and this stunning bit of history of South African servicemen in action was forever recorded.
7 June 1980 Operation Sceptic: Capt IC Du Plessis landed his badly damaged Mirage F1AZ at Ruacana. The aircraft was damaged by shrapnel from an SAM fired at the aircraft during the bombing of a target. He barely made it to Ruacana. For saving the irreplaceable aircraft, rather than ejecting from it, Capt Du Plessis was awarded an Honoris Crux decoration for bravery.