February (Dates Unknown)1920No 1 Squadron was formed at Zwartkop outside Pretoria. Information available stated that all the initial aircraft donated as the ‘Imperial Gift’ from the Britain were allocated to a single squadron in the Union. The Imperial Gift, comprised of the following aircraft: 504K (30 aircraft); BE.2e (two aircraft); De Havilland DH.4 (10 aircraft); De Havilland DH.9 (49 aircraft) and SE.5a (22 aircraft). Since its original inception in 1920, 1 Squadron served with distinction in service of the Union and Republic of South Africa, finally being disbanded (although not for the first time though) in the late 1990s, at which time the unit operated Mirage F-1AZ’s from Air Force Base Hoedspruit.
1939Aircraft Delivery to SAAF: Hurricane Mk 1 / Serial(s): 271 to 273
19406 Squadron relocated (and disbanded) to Air Force Base Waterkloof and on arrival was re-numbered to No 1 Squadron. 1 Squadron was then equipped with four Hurricanes and six Furies. A crew (deployment) commenced from the Union to Abu Suier in three Valentia aircraft. The new Officer Commanding was Major Niblock-Stuart. The squadron comprised of A, B and C Flights. The unit used Gloster Gauntlets as a training aircraft. The unit arrived in Nairobi, where C-Flight remained and A/B-Flights deployed to Eritrea.
A future fighter ace, Lieutenant Colonel Brian Boyle (DFC), joined 1 Squadron. Whilst at 1 Squadron, flying Gladiator and Hurricanes, he became a successful ace with five air-to-air successes, he also shared 24 aircraft destroyed on ground and seven shared damaged on ground. He retired from the South African Air Force with the rank of Brigadier; he passed-away in 1993.
19411 OTU received 3 x Wapiti
No 5 Wing was established. The Ju-52/m3 aircraft were assigned to No 51 Flight.
1942No 8 Squadron was established using Furies transferred from No 43 Squadron (a Royal Air Force unit).
No 15 Squadron, based in Egypt converted to Bristol Blenheim Mk IV bombers.
No 40 Squadron successfully completed the first conversion to the newly allocated Hurricanes and Curtiss Tomahawks.
Aircraft Delivery:
Tiger Moth: (Arrived in Union) 2382 to 2406
1 Squadron ceased its operations at Ghazala (Egypt - ?) III, deployed to El Adem then to Sidi Haneish (Egypt).
2 Squadron re-deployed from El Adem (Libya) to Landing Ground 110 (detail location – still to be determined) to Landing Ground 115 (also known as Sidi Haneish - Egypt).
5 Squadron re-deployed to Landing Ground 99 (also known as El Amiriya, Egypt) to Landing Ground 121, it also received Tomahawk Mk IIBs during this period; after completing training in the Sudan.
15 Squadron’s Marylands were replaced by Bristol Blenheim Mk IVs. The squadron then deployed to “Amriya” (possibly El Amiriya – Egypt) as tactical Bomber Squadron in the Western Desert Theatre.
24 Squadron deployed from Kasfareet (Egypt) to Landing Ground 76 (detail location – still to be determined) to Landing Ground 21 (detail location – still to be determined).
21 Squadron’s crews operating Maryland IIs flew their last operational mission using this type of aircraft.
40 Squadron’s main aircraft during this period was Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vs.
1943Four Wapiti aircraft were reported to have still been operational with 61 Squadron, in the Union.
1 Squadron deployed from Wadi Siru (possibly in the Sudan) to Castel Benito (Libya) and then onward to Hazbub (Tunisia).
2 Squadron deployed from Darragh “East” (Libya) to Zuara (Libya) to Nefatai Main (Tunisia).
5 Squadron deployed from “Bir Darragh” (possibly Darragh Airfield – Libya) onto Zuara (Libya) to Nefatia (Tunisia).
12 Squadron deployed from El Chel (possibly also referred to as Gezina – Libya) to “Sertain” (detail location – still to be determined).
21 Squadron deployed from El Chel (possibly also referred to as Gezina – Libya) to “Sertain – Main” airfield (detail location – still to be determined).
24 Squadron deployed from Alam el Gzina (also known as Belandah No 2 (Alam-el-Gzina), which was located 15 from Agedabia) to “Sertain” (detail location – still to be determined).
60 Squadron received their De Havilland Mosquito PR IV aircraft and deployed to Castle Benito (Libya) from Darragh (Libya).
1944No 44 Squadron started to receive the unit’s first batch of Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX aircraft.
No 41 Squadron relocated from Egypt to North Africa/Palestine and was re-equipped with Spitfire V and IX aircraft.
2 Squadron received the unit’s first batch of Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX aircraft.
12 and 21 Squadron deployed to “Biferno” (possibly Castellino del Biferno – Italy) from Tortorella.
60 Squadron received their first De Havilland Mosquito PR XVI aircraft, the unit’s primary role was that of a ‘tactical reconnaissance’ squadron, a role it would fulfil till its final (last) disbandment in the 1990s.
1945No 44 Squadron moved to the Italian port city of Bari (Italy), at the Bari Airfield to commence operations in the Balkan Campaign. The unit remained at Bari till the end of World War II.
On arrival in Italy, 15 Squadron’s role changed to that of a Night Bomber Squadron.
17 Squadron crews flew their last missions using the Ventura Mk V aircraft and deployed from Algiers (Algeria) to Gianacles (Egypt).
27 Squadron was equipped with Vickers Wellington XIVs and deployed from Cairo West (Egypt) to Giancales (Egypt).
28 Squadron was equipped with Beach Expeditor Mk 1 aircraft.
44 Squadron deployed from Cairo West (Egypt) to Bari Airfield (Italy).
1946The first Anson aircraft landed at Air Force Station Saldanha, north of Cape Town.
1957A 41-man team from 35 Squadron departed to the United Kingdom to commence training at the AV Roe Factory, in preparation of taking delivery of the newly procured Shackleton MR Mk 3 long-range maritime patrol aircraft.
1962Reports indicated that the SAAF had investigated the acquisition of eight Victor B1s, later changed to B Mk2s. The allocated SAAF serials: 8001 to 8008. The aircraft were delivered to the RAF as XH587 to XH594.
1968No 25 Squadron was re-established at Air Force Base Ysterplaat and re-equipped with C-47 Dakota aircraft.
No 21 Squadron was formed as a Very Important Person (VIP) transport squadron as part of No 28 Squadron, the unit was then allocated a Vickers Viscount and three Dakota aircraft, to conduct VIP transport missions.
No 21 Squadron later became an independent unit at Air Force Base Waterkloof. Today (2011), the squadron utilizes various commercial aircraft e.g. Boeing 737 BBJ, Citation, Falcon 50 and Falcon 900 to fulfil its intended role.
1974A former Luftwaffe Fiesler Storch was offered to the South African Air Force Museum ‘on-loan’. (The aircraft remains on static display in the Peter McGregor Hall).
No 41 Squadron was re-equipped with the newly produced and delivered AM-3C Bosbok, (supplementing the C-185 fleet), which would see extensive service conducting visual and photo reconnaissance mission in the South West Africa/Angola Theatre of Operation, as well as playing a vital role in the conduct “TELSTAR” missions in support of security force operations into hostile territory.
This role is currently fulfilled by the C-208 Caravan’s that are equipped with a real-time day/night stabilized optical payload surveillance system.
1975No 3 Squadron re-activated at Air Force Base Waterkloof, in anticipation of delivery of the first Mirage F-1CZ aircraft to the South African Air Force.
1980The South African Air Force’s Mirage F-1AZs were displayed to the public for the first time, since their initial arrival in South Africa (November 1975)!
Information Note: A delegation from Israel arrived at Air Force Base Waterkloof to discuss ‘aircraft upgrades’. The delegation was met by General T. Groenewald at Air Force Base Waterkloof.
1985Information Note (Border War): UNITA forces captured Camabatela, and executed attacks on the Angolan towns: Ambaca (Cuanza Norte Province); Wabu (Huila Province) and Damba (Uige Province). Furthermore, FAPLA deployed an additional 2,000 troops to the Cabinda Enclave after several attacks by e.g. UNITA on this strategic asset of Angola.
1987Information Note (Border War): Intelligence estimates indicated that FAPLA forces were planning an offensive against UNITA in south eastern Angola. The Attack on UNITA elements was appreciated to come from the north, towards Tempu, Gago-Coutino and Cangamba; then from the west too, towards Lupire and Mavinga.
1993The acquisition contract, to procure 63 Pilatus PC-7MkII aircraft from the Swiss aircraft manufacturer was signed. The PC-7 Mk II ‘Astra’ replaced the Harvard.
1994Air Force Base Rooikop (Namibia) officially vacated and handed over to the Republic of Namibia.
1998The following aircraft remained ‘up for sale’: 12 x C-47TP Dakota and a single BN-2 Islander.
Been working on the Feb 'pdf' the past couple of days, hope to finalise it later today.
It contains a bit of graphics a couple of Annexures too, covering info which has not been posted on the daily post.
Drop me a PM with your e-mail address and I'll pass a e-copy to you as well. if you are interested.