Operation Ignition

Operation Ignition
Part of Rhodesian Bush War
Operation Ignition is located in Botswana
Francistown
Francistown
Operation Ignition (Botswana)
Date18 September 1976
Location
Francistown, Botswana
Result

Rhodesian victory

  • ZIPRA safe house in Francistown destroyed.
Belligerents
 Rhodesia ZIPRA
 Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Rhodesia Lt. Col Ronald Reid-Daly
Rhodesia Sandy Maclean		 Joshua Nkomo
Units involved

Rhodesian Army

Unknown
Strength
9 scouts
2 vehicles		 ZIPRA 30 guerilla infantrymen
 Soviet Union 5 advisors[1]
Casualties and losses
None ZIPRA 5 wounded
 Soviet Union 4 out of 5 advisors killed. One advisor wounded.[2]

Operation Ignition was an operation undertaken by the Selous Scouts of the Rhodesian Army on 18 September 1976 against the forces of the guerrilla group ZIPRA Francistown.[3]

  1. ^ Geldenhuys, Preller (2007). Rhodesian Air Force Operations with Air Strike Log. Durban, South Africa: Just Done Productions Publishing (published 13 July 2007). ISBN 978-1-920169-61-9.
  2. ^ Geldenhuys, Preller (2007). Rhodesian Air Force Operations with Air Strike Log. Durban, South Africa: Just Done Productions Publishing (published 13 July 2007). ISBN 978-1-920169-61-9.
  3. ^ Geldenhuys 2007, pp. 160