Ops Hooper - (ops into Angola) - participation breast badge - (silver) - VERY SCARCE

This is an Operation Hooper - combat breast (participation) badge.

The profile image you see, is the badge you will receive. The fake badges on this design are more oval at the bottom of the handle on the obverse side and just below the bush hat on the reverse side, the blade is broader.

These badges were unofficially presented to all SADF troops that participated in Ops Hooper (external cross-border military operation campaign into Angola during the late 1980`s).

I have previously read and heard these badges being referred to, as Special Forces/Recce - Ops Hooper badge. This is incorrect, because they were not limited to Recce only. Any ex/former SADF member that participated in this operation could qualify for them. Because many Special Forces operators also qualified for it, they are found in most recce collections.

The badges were never numbered or named. These badges are very seldom seen on the market and are very SCARCE. They are in demand, due to many former SADF troops that never received a badge.

These badges were manufactured in silver only. Cloth embroided/rubberised variations never existed. These badges were/are worn on the right breast, just above the nametag/plate. Ex-members can also wear them on a suit or sports jacket lapel to indicate their involvement during the SWA/Angola campaign.

Ops Hooper took place during the 1987/1988 (SWA/Angola bushwar campaign). It was also known as Ops Modular, Packer and Hooper. These 3 campaigns flowed into each other. These were the last major external military operations into Angola. Other border operations continued after these 3 operations ended, but they were in a minor role. The final bushwar operation took place in mid 1989 and it was called Ops Merlyn.

(See the book: Badges & Insignia of Southern Africa - volume 1 - The SADF/SANDF Special Forces Brigade - page: 43)