I am currently not connected to the www on a regular basis, will post as connected. Normal routine again from April, appologies to those following the thread, bookmark it for updates, please.
07 March1927The Wapiti aircraft flew for the first time.
1932The first flight of the Junkers Ju-52/3M three-engine prototype, powered by three 410 kW (550 hp) Pratt & Whitney Hornet engines took place in Germany. A number of Ju52s were operated by the SAAF during WWII.
1939Major Peller had the privilege of flying the first South African Air Force Hurricane Mk 1 (271) on its delivery flight from Durban to Pretoria, completing the mission in 1 hour 13 minutes. This aircraft was an ex-RAF machine, with serial L1708.
1941The following missions took place:1 Squadron: A Test flight was flown on a Hurricane in the Port Sudan area.
51 Flight: Three Air Support missions were flown from Nairobi, the first to Mogadishu, the second two to Germiston.
194325 Squadron reported the loss of a Ventura (6040) when it crashed during landing in bad weather.
1945The following missions were flown:30 Squadron: Ten Marauder Interdiction sorties were flown from Lesi to ‘factory targets’. Four General Flying sorties were carried out as well.
A Baltimore Mk V (FW768), allocated to 15 Squadron crashed into the sea shortly after take-off. The crew of four; sustained fatal injuries.
1953Two Harvard aircraft were involved in a mid-air collision over Bloubergstrand. The aircraft were an AT6A serial 7669 and a SNJ3 serial 7671, the crew of the latter aircraft did not survive the accident.
1963Aircraft DeliveriesC-130B Hercules: 406 and 407
1970The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team flew show number 15 at Durban, equipped with Impala Mk 1 aircraft.
1979The following activities were conducted as part of Operation REKSTOK 1:Two 12 Squadron Canberra interdiction missions (two aircraft each) took place – the target was Henhombe (Angola) and an unidentified target in Zambia.
A number of Mirage IIID2Z fighters, deployed on the type’s first operational deployment. The aircraft belonged to 85 Advanced Flying School.
Impala Mk IIs also conducted first operational sortie in Border War.
1987The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team flew show number 110 at Kroonstad, equipped with Impala Mk 1 aircraft.
1991The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team flew show number 187 at Saldanha, equipped with Impala Mk 1 aircraft.
The last Buccaneer SA-Navy Cooperation exercise took place in Durban
1992The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team flew show number 222 at Mykonos, equipped with Impala Mk 1 aircraft.
08 March1918Information Note: Horace D. Barton, South African serving as a pilot during World War 1, in the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force, flying a SE5A, successfully engaged and shot-down a German Fokker DR-1 (Kill # 02).
Information Note: L.A. Payne, a South African pilot, serving in the RFC/RAF (World War 1), flying a Bristol F2B, shot-down two German Albatros DVs. (Kill # 04/11 and 05/11)
1941
Aircraft Deliveries:Tiger Moth: (Shipped to Union) 566 to 569; 573; 585 to 597
Tiger Moth: (Possible Delivery) 2103
The following missions took place:Unidentified Squadrons: A Valentia supported a 2 Squadron deployment to Moyale.
2 Squadron: Two Furies were ferried to Moyale (Kenya).
51 Flight: Two Ju-52s were redeployed to Khartoum from Nairobie, the planned duration 30 days. A Ju-52 flew from Nairobi to Germiston on an Air Support mission.
1943The following aircraft accidents/losses were reported:An Airspeed Oxford (3412), whilst conducting a night training mission (navigation exercise), apparently got lost, the crew then abandoned the aircraft (bailed-out) over the area of Palmietfontein.
A Curtiss Kittyhawk (AK650), belonging to 5 Squadron, was damaged by hostile ground fire. The aircraft returned to base, but crashed during landing.
1944A 22 Squadron Ventura (6415), crashed after take-off from St Albans, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
1945The following missions took place:30 Squadron: Nine Marauder Interdiction sorties were flown to marshaling yards, furthermore two General Flying sorties were flown.
The following aircraft accidents/losses were reported:
A Marauder (HD477), belonging to 21 Squadron was shot down over Asra.
A Consolidated B-24 Liberator belonging to 31 Squadron (EV958 ‘R’) was shot down and crashed into the Adriatic Sea. None of the eight crew members were able to survive.
195717 Squadron reported the loss of a Ventura (6491) when it crashed into the mountains at Miller’s Point. All five crew sustained fatal injuries.
1978The first Mirage III (CZ) landed at Air Force Base Hoedspruit. The ‘Flying Cheetahs’, i.e. 2 Squadron operated various versions of this ‘delta’ from Hoedspruit till its disbandment, prior to receiving the Cheetah C’s in the 1990’s.
1979A pair of Canberra aircraft, allocated to 12 Squadron flew two interdiction/strike missions, on targets at Huambango and then later during the day to Henhombe; as part of continued missions in support of Operation SAFFRAAN / REKSTOK. Futhermore, three sorties were flown hitting targets at Muongo, Vila Franca and Capindi.
1983During a 32 Battalion operation, Puma helicopters inadvertently flew close-by a newly established SWAPO camp (200-man), fearing an attack, the SWAPO elements hastily vacated the camp, soon after the SADF realised this, elements moved in to capture a vast amount of SWAP equipment and documents.