Operation Placid

Operation Placid
Part of the Rhodesian Bush War
Date 22 August 1979 (1979-08-22) Location Zambia 15°25′00″S 28°17′00″E / 15.416667°S 28.283333°E / -15.416667; 28.283333 Result Zimbabwe Rhodesian victory failed counter-attack by Zambian
Belligerents
Zimbabwe Rhodesia  South Africa	ZIPRA Zambia
Commanders and leaders
Abel Muzorewa	Unknown Unknown
Units involved
RhAF SADF SAAF 12 Squadron	Zambian Air Force
Strength
Zimbabwe Rhodesia: 2 Hawker Hunters 4 Canberras  South Africa: 3 Canberras	ZIPRA: Unknown  Zambia: 8 Shenyang J-6
Casualties and losses
none	ZIPRA: heavy  Zambia: none
Lusaka class=notpageimage| Location within Zambia

Operation Placid was a Rhodesian military operation in Zambia with clandestine assistance from the South African Air Force (SAAF) during the Rhodesian Bush War. The Rhodesian Air Force planned raids against a ZIPRA camps in Zambia on the northern Rhodesian border.

The operation consisted of two raids on ZIPRA camps on 22 August 1979. The South African Air Force provided three Canberra bombers (12 Squadron SAAF) with crew for the operation which would include Rhodesian Air Force Canberra's and Hawker Hunter fighters.^[1]: Ch5 The aircraft of Operation Placid I departed at 09h15 from Fylde airbase, the Canberra's armed with two 1000lb and nine 500lb bombs for the targets in Zambia.^[1]: Ch5 During the operation the Zambian Air Force launched Shenyang F-6 fighters to intercept the operation but failed to intercept the formation.^[1]: Ch5

Operation Placid II took place on the same day at 15h40 and re-attacked the morning targets and again the Zambian Air Force launched Shenyang F-6 fighters to intercept the operation but failed.^[1]: Ch5

• Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledgling to Eagle. The South African Airforce during the Border War (Kindle ed.). Solihull, England: Helion & Company. ISBN 9781908916624.
• Moorcraft, Paul; McLaughlin, Peter (2011). The Rhodesian War. A Military History (3rd ed.). Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 9781848845220.
• Geldenhuys, Preller (2007). Rhodesian Air Force Operations with Air Strike Log. Durban, South Africa: Just Done Productions Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920169-61-9.