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18 July 2025
New award added to SAAF prestige list
There’s another award for SAAF personnel to strive for " the Free the Eagle Innovation trophy " aimed at encouraging out-of-the-box thinking leading to innovations that will “propel” the airborne service of the SANDF forward. Read More...
8 July 2025
SAAF looking to Pakistan for training and aircraft maintenance
SAAF Chief, Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo, was in Pakistan earlier this month (July) where, reports have it, “revamping” of the South African airborne service’s training regime was an agenda item. Read More...
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Silver Falcon "Gooney Bird" keyring
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Silver Falcon "Gooney Bird" keyring Silver Falcon "Gooney Bird" keyring with bottle opener, produced the Friends of the SAAF Museum (Cape Town)...
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Mirage F1 Cyrano IV Radar Manual
Books / Manuals
Mirage F1CZ Airborne Fire Control Radar Operating Manual (pdf) 15005589 - 15005861 Cyrano IV Plus as fitted to the Mirage F1. - General Overvi...
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WELCOME
Welcome to my privately run, unofficial website on the South African Air Force. It is maintained by myself during my (limited) spare time so please read the Terms of Use. I hope you enjoy the experience and visit again soon. All suggestions are welcome, as are old uniforms, squadron badges, patches, memorabilia, books, etc. - Dean Wingrin
Tumult in the Clouds
New SAAF book launched!

A new book on the personal history of the SAAF has been launched. Titled "Tumult in the Clouds - Stories from the South African Air Force, 1920 - 2010", the book has been compiled by Dean Wingrin who personally interviewed and corresponded with nearly all the contributors.

The South African Air Force (SAAF), formed on 1 February 1920, is the second oldest air force in the Commonwealth. The air arm played a major role in securing victory for the Allies during the Second World War, in the 1948/49 Berlin Airlift, and in Korea in the 1950s. The SAAF assisted Rhodesia in the 1960s and ’70s, made a major contribution to the ‘Border’ or ‘Bush’ war in South West Africa and Angola, participated in the transition to a new democracy in South Africa and continuously supports South African peace missions in Africa. It has also assisted in countless relief and rescue missions in southern Africa throughout this entire period.

However, the SAAF is not just about aircraft and ordnance; it is made up of people and it is in this compilation that these people, airmen and ground crew alike, find their voice. These are their stories, all told in the first person by the actual participants as unvarnished, unabbreviated and intensely immediate and personal recollections.

Through their stories of heroism, duty, adventure and tragedy, the reader will follow the history of the SAAF prior to 1939 to the present day.

To complement the stories, the final chapter includes a collection of squadron pub songs from the Second World War, Korea and the Border War.

The highly successful formal launch took place at the SAAF Museum Flying Training Day, Zwartkop airfield, on Saturday 2 February 2013. Lt Gen Denis Earp, who wrote the Foreword, was guest of honour, together with Maj Gen Tsoku Khumalo and Lt Col Mike O'Conner.

Purchase your copy now fromThe Airforce Shop and other fine bookshops.
 
 
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