An original League of Nations mandate for South Africa to administer South West Africa was overturned by UN General Assembly Resolution 2074 in Dec 1965 as SWAPO (and its military wing, the PLAN) were stepping up independence activities.
A group of PLAN insurgents crossed into Namibia from Zambia during Jul 1966, attacking border posts, villages and farms and setting up a forward base for further incursions. On 26 Aug, members of the SADF Parachute Battalion were inserted by 8 SAAF
Alouette III in a successful assault on the camp at Ongulumbashe.
This date is regarded as the opening of the Independence War and is recognised by the UN as
Namibia Day.
