The SAAF Forum

02 FEBRUARY ...

1939

A Hawker Hartbees, serial 850 was written-off during an accident, fatally injuring both crew members.

1941

A Hawker Hartbees, serial 834, was shot-down over ‘Hobok’.
A Hurricane, reportedly 291, crashed.

1943

A Miles Master M19, serial 2884, was involved in a fatal accident in the Standerton area during a night flying mission.

1944

Airspeed Oxford (3698) was written-off following a crash.

1945

No 262 Squadron (Royal Air Force) was re-numbered and became 35 Squadron (South African Air Force).

1951

An F-51 Mustang (319), allocated to 2 Squadron, based in Korea crashed during an operational sortie, in the area north east of Wonsan, fatally wounding Lt Wilson.

1953

No 2 Group (SAAF) relocated to Youngsfield.

1968

The designation ‘Central Flying School’ was changed and became Flying Training School Dunnottar. This name change lasted till 1977.

Air Force Station Pietersburg officially re-named to Air Force Base Pietersburg.

1973

An Impala Mk 1, presumably from Flying Training School Langebaanweg was written-off in an accident in the Darling area (Western Cape. The serial number of the aircraft was 485. Captain Marshall was fatally injured.

Some screen shots of Version 2.001

Ooh, the best of both threads .. v2.001 has attrition summaries You going to include the Jan attrition update into the Feb pdf ?

Cheers

_________________
Brent Best

I have posted via e-mail V2.001 a couple of minutes ago

My outlook just pinged ...

Sorted, thanks

_________________
Brent Best

Brilliant!

03 FEBRUARY ...

1944

A 26 Squadron, Wellington (HZ-524), overshot the runway during night bad weather conditions (reportedly fog) crashing approximately 2nm from the Robert’s Field airbase in Liberia.

A De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth, serial 2322 ditched into a dam, following a steep turn.

A B-26 Marauder, allocated to 24 Squadron was shot down, fatally wounding four crew and two crew members were taken Prisoner of War. The serial number of the aircraft was FB-478.

1945

A Hawker Hurricane (5351), ditched of the coast in the St Alban’s area (South Africa).

1953

A 17 Squadron Ventura (6442) crashed. It is reported to have been due to engine failure.

1977

Flying Training School Dunnottar reverted to its previous name: CFS.

1985

The locally built XH-1 Alpha flew for the first time. This aircraft is currently on static display at the SAAF Museum.





1997

A PC7-Mk II (2021), Central Flying School was written-off following an accident at Langebaanweg.

04 FEBRUARY...


1920

United Kingdom to Cape Town Flight: The Silver Queen 1 departed from Brooklands (United Kingdom) to Turin, piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Pierre van Ryneveld and Captain Brand. The Vickers Vimy aircraft registration was G-UABA.



1941

A De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth, serial 505 suffered engine failure and crashed, fatally wounding both crewmembers.

1942

A De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth, serial 1546 crashed at Randfontein, both crew sustained fatal injuries.

An Avro Anson, crashed whilst executing a forced landing in the area of Somerset East. The serial number was 1220.

1944

A Bristol Beaufighter, LZ-332, allocated to 16 Squadron, was involved in a fatal mid-air collision.

A 17 Squadron Ventura (FP-543) was reported missing during a Maritime Patrol mission. The four crew members were not found.

1945

A Mustang Mk IVA allocated to 5 Squadron was reported missing during an operational mission. The pilot was not found. Aircraft’s serial reported to be KH-861.

1949

A Spitfire Mk IXE, 5546 crashed during take-off, presumably at Langebaanweg.

2004

The first Hawk Mk120 “SA-001” made its maiden “military” flight at the Test Flight Development Centre. Aircraft serial: 250.

I'll be attending the Al Ain International Airshow here in the United Arab Emirates for the next two days, will post next news once back in Abu Dhabi.

05 FEBRUARY ...

1920

UK to Cape Town Flight: The Silver Queen 1 arrived in Rome (Italy).

1942

A Miles Master M-19, serial 2729, crashed during landing, when it hit a tractor.

It was also reported that a 1 Squadron Hurricane was written-off, most likely due to hostile action.

1943

A De Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth, serial 562, crashed after take-off (presumably from Wonderboom) when it flew into a hill in the Magaliesberg.

1945

An Avro Anson (4421), whilst on a night flying sortie, became lost, executed a forced landing, writing of the aircraft.

1973

The first production variant of the Dassault Breguet Mirage F1 made its maiden flight in France. The SAAF was to become an operator of the Mirage F1AZ and Mirage F1CZ.

1976

An Impala Mk 1 (MB-326M), serial 510, presumably from Flying Training School Langebaanweg was written-off in an accident in the Aurora area (Western Cape). The cause of the accident was reported to have been an onboard fire. The crew successfully ejected from the stricken aircraft.

1991

An Impala Mk 1 (604), from 85 Combat Flying School, Air Force Base Pietersburg was written-off in an accident in the Pietersburg; the cause of the accident is unknown, however the pilot Lt Neuhoff was fatally injured.

06 FEBRUARY ...

1942

No 11 Air Depot was re-established (second time) at AFS Brooklyn, where it remained till the unit’s second closure during 1944 (the date not known).

1943

A Miles Master M-19, serial 4018, was written-off after it hit a second aircraft (it is assumed to have been on the ground).

1944

An Avro Anson, serial 3271, whilst conducting a low-level air-to-ground training mission crashed in the Katberg area, fatally injuring all five onboard.

A PV-1 Ventura (FP-635), allocated to 17 Squadron was reported missing whilst on a Maritime Patrol Mission, the crew have been presumed to have not survived the ‘accident’.

1945

A Ventura (6424) belonging to 23 Squadron, suffered hydraulic failure during landing and crashed.

1990

An S-316 Alouette III (42) allocated to 22 Squadron, Air Force Base Ysterplaat crashed on Table Mountain during a mountain rescue mission.

07 FEBRUARY ...

1942

An Airspeed oxford (3318), crashed when it failed to gain altitude, and hit trees. The accident took place at Collingdale.

1951

An F-51 Mustang (307), allocated to 2 Squadron, based in Korea crashed during an operational sortie, after being damaged by hostile ground-to-air fire in the area of Yonghung, fatally wounding 2 Lt DR Leah.

1953

A Harvard (7414) was involved in a fatal accident, after colliding with Harvard 7073 in-flight.

1958

Avro Shackleton MR Mk 3, SAAF (serial 1722, construction number 1532) made her first flight in the United Kingdom, painted in SAAF colors. The aircraft was coded “P” (Pappa).

Profile Drawing: With kind permission from Brent Best.


1979

Two Impala Mk 1 aircraft (serials 496 and 543), presumably from 5 Squadron were written-off during a mid-air collision in the Ixopo area (Natal). The crew safely ejected from both aircraft.

08 FEBRUARY ...

1920

UK to Cape Town Flight: Silver Queen 1 arrived in Sollum (Western Egypt).

1941

A Hawker Hurricane Mk1 (serial 291) was involved in an accident and reportedly written-off.

1942

1 Squadron reported the loss of two Hawker Hurricane aircraft:

- Serial ?, crashed after being damaged by cannon fire from a Luftwaffe Bf-109 fighter.
- Serial Z-5069 was also involved in an accident, presumably on an operational mission.

1943

26 Squadron deployed to Germiston to commence operational training.

A Hawker Hartbees (837) crashed during a mission in the Witbank area.

1944

Two Spitfires were lost during operational missions, after being shot down by enemy anti-aircraft artillery:

- Serial JK-922, an Mk VC, allocated to 4 Squadron. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
- Serial ER-465, an Mk VB, allocated to 40 Squadron.

1945

A 12 Squadron B-26 Marauder (HD-521), crashed when it overshot the runway during landing.

Three Avro Anson aircraft were written-off due to un-related accidents:

- Serial 1126, crashed – two fatalities.
- Serial 4272, crashed during a bad weather take-off from East London, both crew sustained fatal injuries.
- Serial 4364, reported to have crashed as well, no further information.

A Bristol Beaufighter (NT-998) was shot-down by enemy anti-aircraft artillery, fatally wounding one crew member.

1982

A SAAF SA-330L Puma (serial 163) was written-off during an operational mission in the Cahama area, Southern Angola.

A Kudu (serial 983), also crashed. No further information.

1985

A Mirage F-1CZ was written-off, following a fire during landing at Langebaanweg. The aircraft serial was reported to be 205. It is likely to have been during a routine 3 Squadron ‘Air-to-Air Camp’ deployment to the Western Cape. This aircraft was later re-built with parts from the Mirage F-1CZ lost at Air Force Base Rundu in 1987.

09 FEBRUARY ...

1920

UK to Cape Town Flight: The Silver Queen 1 arrived in Cairo, Egypt.

1932

An Avro Avian (507) was involved in an accident, the airframe was written-off due to damage caused as result of the accident.

1943

A Miles Master (2931), crashed after take-off – the aircraft flew into a hill, both crew sustained fatal injuries.



1945

A Bristol Beaufighter (NV-121), was shot down during operations by enemy anti-aircraft artillery, the crew survived the accident.

10 FEBRUARY ...

1920

UK to Cape Town Flight: Silver Queen 1 departed Cairo (23h36 Cairo Time) en-route to Khartoum (non-stop flight).

1934

The ‘Cape Squadron’ was established and this formed the future core of No 2 Squadron that would be established some time in the future. The Cape Squadron was established at Swartkop Air Station.
The entrance to 2 Squadron many, many decades later, 2 Squadron lives on!



1942

A Fairy Battle, serial 943, crashed at Port Elizabeth, following a reported engine failure after take-off.

A Tomahawk, allocated to 2 Squadron crashed, the serial number is reported to have been AN-243, and unfortunately the pilot did not survive the accident.

An Airspeed Oxford, serial 1939, crashed when it overshot the runway on landing, and then stalled. The accident occurred at Kimberly airfield.

1943

A Douglas Boston allocated to 12 Squadron, crashed during take-off, there were two fatalities.

1951

Five persons (including crew) sustained fatal injuries when a DC-3 Dakota (6856) crashed at Bizina.



1954

A Harvard (7659) was involved in a fatal accident when it struck the ground during low-level flying.

1958

Avro Shackleton MR Mk 3, South African Air Force (serial 1723, construction number 1533) first flight, and was painted in South African Air Force colors with the code “Q” (Quebec).

1961

An Auster AOP-9 serial 5413 crashed.

1988

In support of operations in South Eastern Angola, the SAAF conducted Operation ARNO/ARNOTT (sources report different spelling), which saw the first ever operational deployment of a Cactus mobile Surface to Air Missile into Angola.





No 19 Squadron (Swartkops) deployed a number of Puma helicopters to support the security forces, following an attempted coup in the former homeland territory, Bophuthatswana.

1994

A Cessna C-185A (720), crashed in the Carleton area, fatally injuring the pilot.

1998

22 Squadron, stationed at Air Force Base Ysterplaat won the Sword of Peace, sixth time running during past seven year period.

10.02.1945
Lt Hall died whilst flying a P-47 Thunderbolt Mk.II HD-252 in 79 (RAF) Squadron in the Far East.
He is remembered on the Singapore Memorial, Column 457, Singapore

For a purist the SAAF nor SAA (all SAA C-47's are ex SAAF machines) never flew a DC-3, all the SAAF Dakota's are C-47 military version and not the DC-3 which are the civillian version.

There are a number of differnces between the two, one being a strengthened floor for the C-47.