- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: MOZAMBICAN AIR FORCE DEFECTOR TALKS TO NEWS CONFERENCE.
- Date: 20th July 1981
- Summary: HOEDSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA GV Newsmen taking pictures of MIG fighter. 0.12 LV South African Air Force Mirage fighter alongside MIG. 0.19 SV Lieutenant Bomba climbing into cockpit of his MIG. 0.35 CU PAN FROM Bomba in cockpit TO South African Mirage. 0.45 SV ZOOM TO Mozambique symbol on wing. 0.54 CU INTERIOR Bomba speaking in English. 1.10 SV Bomba listening to question. 1.
- Embargoed: 4th August 1981 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa, South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: General,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA2YXLD2R9XJQP3DWQYZAHHCNRD
- Story Text: HOEDSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA
INTRODUCTION: A Mozambican air force pilot, who flew his Soviet-built MIG-17 to South Africa on July 8, has revealed that his brother is also seeking political asylum there. Lieutenant Andriano Francisco Bomba told newsmen at the Hoedspruit air base on Saturday (18 July) that his brother, Bonaventura, crossed into South Africa after hearing about his flight.
SYNOPSIS: The pilot's MIG aircraft was of little interest. Officers at this South African base said it would soon be returned to Mozambique. Lieutenant Bomba flew the plane to Hoedspruit to become the first pilot to defect to South Africa from a neighbouring state.
The Mozambican pilot spent nearly three years in the Soviet Union training as a pilot. He said he and his brother were still waiting to hear whether they could stay in South Africa.
Lieutenant Bomba posed for newsmen in his ageing MIG next to a locally built French Mirage jet, one of South Africa's leading strike aircraft.
At a news conference, the first held since he defected, Lieutenant Bomba spoke about his reasons for defecting to South Africa.
When Bomba left Mozambique he flew a zig-zag course at tree-top level before climbing to 7,000 metres (22,000 feet) after crossing the border. He was intercepted by two South African Mirage jets and followed instructions to put down at Hoedspruit. On landing he said he wanted refuge as "life in Mozambique was getting worse and worse". Reports say Lieutenant Bomba's defection was greeted by South Africa as a major propaganda coup.
<strong>Source: REUTERS - NIC LOUW</strong> - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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