The Kindu Massacre, or Kindu Atrocity, took place on the 11th or 12th of November 1961 in Kindu Port-Émpain, in the Congo-Léopoldville (the former Belgian Congo). Thirteen Italian airmen who were members of the United Nations Operation in the Congo, sent to pacify the country ravaged by civil war, were murdered and cannibalized by locals. The Italian aviators manned two C-119s, twin-engined transport aircraft known as Flying Boxcars, of the 46ª Aerobrigata based at Pisa Airfield. Background By 1960, the former Belgian colony had become a prosperous country with vast resources of natural wealth. The Belgians had planned a peaceful transition of self-government and independence for the people of the country by 1964. However, calls for early independence had been made by the most extreme faction of the country’s political groups and Belgium agreed in order to avoid an Algerian style of civil war. Belgium left Congo-Léopoldville (to-day known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo) as agreed but political and administrative chaos ensued; major Cold War and financial interests played a part in making the situation even more serious by favoring the secession of two regions, South Kasai and Katanga. Katanga was the richest province in the country with important mining activity. Three factions were involved: Joseph Kasa-Vubu's, with troops led by General Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, the pro-Lumumba faction led by Antoine Gizenga with troops under the command of General Victor Lundula holding the eastern province; and Moise Tshombe's Katangan faction, with gendarmes supported by foreign mercenaries. The massacre The two Italian aircrews had been operating for a year and a half in the Congo and their return to Italy was scheduled for 23 November 1961. In the morning of Saturday 11 November 1961, the two aircraft took off from the capital city Leopoldville (now Kinshasa) to supply the small Malaysian United Nations garrison controlling the airfield not far from Kindu, on the edge of the equatorial forest. Europeans stayed in the area very unwillingly, because of the upheaval caused by the passing of Gizenga troops coming from Stanleyville and bound for Katanga. However the Italian aircrew did not have to stay, save for the unloading of the aircraft and to have a brief lunch. Then they planned to fly back to base within the day. The two C-119s appeared in the sky above Kindu shortly after 2 PM, circled over the village a couple of times, then they landed.