Geingob funeral: Govt salutes Angola’s ‘neighbourly’ support
Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila says Angolan president João Lourenço was responsible for sending a contingent of four Karakorum-8 or K-8 light attack aircraft that were used in a fly-over as a last salute to late president Hage Geingob this past weekend.
The aircraft were used to perform a missing man formation, which is used to honour a fallen comrade. It's often seen during funerals, memorial services or other aviation-related events.
The formation involves a group of aircraft flying closely together, and at a certain point, one of the planes will peel off or climb away, symbolising the departure of the missing or fallen pilot.
The missing man formation was performed at Geingob’s funeral by seven aircraft. Three aircraft belonged to the Namibian Air Force, while the remaining four belonged to the National Air Force of Angola.
Strong support
Explaining the presence of the aircraft, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said it was a result of Namibia receiving logistical and equipment support as part of pledges to assist in the burial of Geingob.
“The president of Angola sent a contingent of his air force to join the Namibian counterparts to give a final salute, so four of the seven jets that flew past were from Angola,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said during a vote of thanks following the conclusion of Geingob’s burial.
Lourenço was also thanked for previously accompanying the remains of liberation struggle heroes who were exhumed, repatriated and reburied at the Heroes Acre in 2014.
“We still remember when the Angolan president escorted the remains of our liberation struggle veterans, who died and were buried in Angola during the liberation struggle, whose remains were exhumed for burial here at Heroes Acre; he came with them,” she said.
The aircraft were used to perform a missing man formation, which is used to honour a fallen comrade. It's often seen during funerals, memorial services or other aviation-related events.
The formation involves a group of aircraft flying closely together, and at a certain point, one of the planes will peel off or climb away, symbolising the departure of the missing or fallen pilot.
The missing man formation was performed at Geingob’s funeral by seven aircraft. Three aircraft belonged to the Namibian Air Force, while the remaining four belonged to the National Air Force of Angola.
Strong support
Explaining the presence of the aircraft, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said it was a result of Namibia receiving logistical and equipment support as part of pledges to assist in the burial of Geingob.
“The president of Angola sent a contingent of his air force to join the Namibian counterparts to give a final salute, so four of the seven jets that flew past were from Angola,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said during a vote of thanks following the conclusion of Geingob’s burial.
Lourenço was also thanked for previously accompanying the remains of liberation struggle heroes who were exhumed, repatriated and reburied at the Heroes Acre in 2014.
“We still remember when the Angolan president escorted the remains of our liberation struggle veterans, who died and were buried in Angola during the liberation struggle, whose remains were exhumed for burial here at Heroes Acre; he came with them,” she said.
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Namibian Sun
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