POLISARIO Insurgency: Spanish Sahara, 1971
The Last Years of the Spanish Sahara

Despite numerous aircraft assets in the field in the final years of the action against the POLISARIO insurgency in the Spanish Sahara, the aircraft that saw the most action was the humble Do.27.

408th squadron's Do.27s performed liaison and reconnaissance operations cooperating closely with the 46th Composite Airwing but remained autonomous operating from dozens of primitive airstrips they searched for insurgents' supply caravans, escorted vehicle convoys, hauled supplies, and evacuated casualties.

Sturdy, and easy to maintain and operate it still suffered in the summer heat as its short take-off and landing performance was affected. Often the heat meant that crews immediately had to cover the wings with blankets soaked in water to cool down the internal fuel tanks. Often the wings were wholly, or partially, painted white to help mitigate the situation.

Text & Photo from: Africa@War 33, Showdown in Western Sahara Vol 1, Tom Cooper, Helion & Co.