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.