Dingo Firestorm: The Greatest Battle of the Rhodesian Bush War

by Ian Pringle

On 23 November 1977, an armada of helicopters and airplanes took off from Rhodesian airbases and crossed the border into Mozambique. Their to attack the headquarters of the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army, where thousands of enemy forces were concentrated. Codenamed Operation Dingo, the raid was planned to coincide with a meeting of Robert Mugabe and his war council at the targeted HQ. It would be the biggest conflict of the Rhodesian Bush War. In this fascinating account, Ian Pringle describes the political and military backdrop leading up to the operation, and he tells the story of the battle through the eyes of key personalities who planned, led and participated in it. Using his own experience as a jet and helicopter pilot and skydiver, he recreates the battle in detail, explaining the performance of men and machines in the unfolding drama of events. DINGO FIRESTORM is a fresh, gripping recreation of a major battle in southern African military history.

Genres: Africa, History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, War, Zimbabwe

469 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2012

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Ian Pringle demonstrates his deep knowledge of military aviation and air operations in this book about Operation Dingo. The author takes us through the political and in depth military planning and execution of the operation which struck at two ZANLA military bases deep inside Mozambique at incredible odds. In the chaos resulting from armed conflict Mr. Pringle is able to concisely describe the battle and minute timing and combined arms coordination which was required to execute Dingo.

For those that might not be familiar with the political backdrop behind the operation the author does provide in the first 80 pages or so a summary of the previous two decades of political conflict. Be prepared to have a number of personages and organizations to be presented. They come rapid fire and the outline of events a bit confusing, but does an adequate job of covering a lot of ground.

Overall a good addition to the collection of literature on the Rhodesian Bush War.

[Daniel Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book details the biggest battle launched during the Rhodesian bush war.
Well researched and giving accounts of people who were there.
The book gives the reader a good grounding of the situation in Rhodesia at the time and explains why these attacks were needed.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most badass books I've ever read. If you have an interest in military aviation or the Bush War definitely read it. It does give good context for what the Bush War was all about too so if you're unfamiliar with the conflict you'll do fine.

[FellowBibliophile KvK · Rating 5 out of 5]

The account of how the Rhodesian Air Force, Rhodesian Light Infantry and Rhodesian Special Air Service, restricted by embargoes on the part of virtue-signaling la-di-da's in Britain, America, Canada and the UN, and thus restricted to antiquated aircraft and other equipment, surrounded and destroyed a terrorist base deep inside Communist Moçambique.

One is hard-pressed to find an account of Navy SEALs or Canadian JTF II's pulling an operation of a similar boldness and scale in the 21st century.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting over view drawn from numerous accounts of Operation Dingo. The assault by the Rhodesian defence forces on the headquarters of ZANLA in Mozambique in 1977. With some back story on the conflict and the key players involved in it. I'm not sure if Hollywood script writers could come up with something so audacious.

Sending 250 blokes and virtually their entire aging air force to assault a headquarters home to 8000 terrorists. Suffering only 2 fatalities in the process.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book By taking a more people-oriented view, the totality of the war was better understood. Would have liked a little more reference as to how this battle fed into the entire war

[Peter Sands · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book but I found the author kept going off at a tangent once he had caught your interest. Whilst annoying, it was still a good read.