The SAAF Forum

Members subscribed to the 'pdf', I am currently preparing March's 'pdf', I am in the process of working on the various Appendix/Annexures, photos, and 'unknown dates' sections. I hope to have it finalised and in your e-mails in the next week or two.

01 April

1918

General Information
J. Bell, a South African serving in the Royal Flying Corps Force, shot-down a German Fokker DR1, whilst flying a Sopwith Camel. This was his 14th confirmed kill.

1920

General Information
Samuel M. Kinkead, a South African, serving in the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force was awarded the DSO.

1921

General Information
The establishment of the Central Photographic Establishment, can be traced back to this day.

1939

General Information
No 3 Fighter-Bomber Squadron was re-established at Waterkloof.
Aircraft Deliveries
Hart 1 / Serial(s): 380-385 and 387.

1940

Aircraft Deliveries
Tiger Moth: 539 to 550 (shipment date to Union of SA).

1941

Operations and Statistics
Following the Allied victory at Keren, operations continued eastward to Asmara, which was then declared an ‘open town’ too.
Reports indicate that Ju-52, serial 665 remained operational after being shot up ‘badly’ by enemy fighters. Furthermore, 51 Flight was granted permission to perform 120-hour services at Khartoum.
Sorties
51 Flight. A Ju-52 conducted a ferry flight from Khartoum to Nairobi
Accidents and Losses
1 Squadron reported the loss of a Hurricane (V7668), after it crashed into a telephone pole after take-off, fatally injuring the pilot.

1942

Accidents and Losses
A Curtiss Tomahawk (AN267) allocated to 5 Squadron crashed due to engine failure after take-off.

1945

Accidents and Losses
A Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX (MJ875) belonging to 7 Squadron was shot down by enemy ground fire, the pilot was fatally wounded.
25 Squadron reported the loss of a B-26 Marauder (HD669), after the crew abandoned the aircraft over the sea due to an in-flight engine fire.

1951

General Information
The Air Force’s ‘Airfield Maintenance Unit’ was split into two new units, namely 100 Airfield Maintenance Squadron and 105 Airfield Maintenance Squadron, respectively based at Swartkop and Ysterplaat.

1965

General Information
New Squadron Commanding Officer appointed: 12 Sqn / Cmdt Eagar DFC.

1974

Border War Info Note
A cabinet decision in South Africa formalized a decision that the South African Defence Force would take-over responsibility for Counter-Insurgency Operations in the border/operational area (South West Africa/Angola Border), leaving the police to concentrate on their normal duties. During the second half of 1973, the South African Defence Force had already started to position and ramp-up its capabilities in South West Africa in anticipation of taking over this responsibility from the Police. The South African Defence Force responsibilities therefore commenced on 1 April 1974. It would take another 25 years for the initiation of the United Nations Resolution 435 to be implemented, co-incidentally Res 435 was implemented with the arrival of the United Nations Transitional Assistance Group (UNTAG) in March 1989. UNTAG commenced operations on 1 April 1989.

1980

General Information
Air Force Station Durban was officially re-named Air Force Base Durban.

1989

Sorties
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 159 at Hopefield – Freedom of City.

1993

General Information
Mobile Radar Group (MRG) and Air Defence Artillery Group (ADAG) merged and thereby established a new unit, namely Airspace Control Unit.

1999

General Information
8 Air Servicing Unit was established at Langebaanweg.

2000

Sorties
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating PC-7 Mk II) conducted show number 356 at the Military Academy.
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating PC-7 Mk II) conducted show number 357 at Langebaanweg.

2003

Accidents and Losses
A 2 Squadron Cheetah C (349), was written-off following an accident. The pilot Major A. Sera safely ejected.

2011

General Information
The South African Air Force announced that a contract had been finalized to lease two Embraer Lineage 1000 aircraft to supplement the current fleet of aircraft at 21 Squadron. It was soon hereafter announced as ‘cancelled’.

2012

General Information
It was announced that ‘Swartkop’ will be renamed ‘AFB Zwartkop’. The matter was awaiting approval.

02 April (Nil Info)

03 April

1941
Sorties
51 Flight. A Ju-52 returned to Khartoum from Nairobi via Kisimayo.

1942
Accidents and Losses
A Curtis Tomahawk (AN239) was involved in a fatal accident during a Combat Air Patrol mission; the aircraft belonged to 5 Squadron.

1944
Accidents and Losses
A Supermarine Spitfire Mk VC (JK398) crashed – it belonged to 40 Squadron.
A Curtis P-40D Warhawk (FX661), crashed (ditched) after being hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire, the pilot belonging to 5 Squadron was captured and taken Prisoner of War.
Three Airspeed Oxford were written-off during accidents: namely ‘1920’ crashed in the Pietersburg area, due to stall, whilst - ‘3649’ and ‘3712’ were involved in a fatal mid-air collision in the Air Force Base Pietersburg circuit area.

1945
Accidents and Losses
A P-51 Mustang Mk IVA (KH805) was shot down by Anti-Aircraft Artillery, the pilot survived, but taken Prisoner of War.

1952
Accidents and Losses
A Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXe (5608) crashed at Toothrock Weapons Range, Langebaan area.

1954
Accidents and Losses
A Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXe (5622) was involved in a fatal accident.

1973
General Information
The South African Air Force’s six remaining Alouette IIs were transferred to the South African Police in support of Operation HEUP in Rhodesia.

1975
Information Note
Mr P.W. Botha and Mr S. Perez signed a security and secrecy agreement (referred to as ‘SECMENT’), governing all aspects of the newly established defence relationship between South Africa and Israel.

1991
Sorties
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 191 at Mykonos.

2013
Deployments and Allocations
Reports surfaced that four Gripens from 2 Squadron had deployed to Entebbe in Uganda. It was later confirmed the deployment was in support of SANDF Peace Keeping Forces threatened in the democratic Republic of Congo.

04 April

1931
The first locally built Westland Wapiti flew in the Union.

1939
The following aircraft losses were reported:
A Wapiti (613) was involved in a mid-air collision with a Gypsy Moth (ZS-ACW) in the Durban area; the crew of the Wapiti, Lt Kinskey and P/P Schoeman were fatally injured.
An Avro 621 Tutor (739) was involved in a fatal accident.

1941
A Fiat CR32 and CR42 was captured at Addis Ababa, by the South African Air Force, and allocated serial numbers ‘21’ and ‘22’ respectively.

1942
A Hart I (328) was involved in an accident in the Boksburg area.
The Fiat CR32 and CR42 aircraft, captured in 1941, were transferred from 42 Squadron to 6 Squadron (Durban) and used during Air-to-Air Mission training and Communications flights.

1943
A Curtiss P40D Warhawk (AK708), allocated to 4 Squadron was shot down by ground forces.

1945
A Ventura (6486) crashed during a test flight, all six crew on-board sustained fatal injuries and belonged to 23 Squadron.
A Consolidated Liberator B24J Mk VI (KK302), was involved in a fatal mid-air collision in the circuit when it collided with a 70 Squadron (Royal Air Force) Vickers Wellington. Eight fatalities were reported for the B24.

1950
A Harvard Mk IIA (7316) was written-off following an unauthorized low-level flight over the sea along the Durban beach front area.

1951
The South African Air Force’s pilots had made a significant contribution towards the development of the Fifth Air Force's 'Truck Busting' techniques and on 4 April 1951 the Commander of the Fifth Air Force, Lt Gen E.E. Partridge, singled out 2 Squadron during the United Nations Commander’s morning briefing as the most efficient unit at seeking out and destroying camouflaged enemy vehicles!

1969
A Harvard Mk IIA (7211) was involved in a fatal accident.

1975
Aircraft Deliveries:
Mirage F1CZ: 200

1983
During a operation in the Xangongo (Angola) area, a Puma after landing at a landing Zone, reported SWAPO elements walking into the active Landing Zone, 32 Battalion subsequently engaged the SWAPO elements.

1985
A 1 Squadron Mirage F-1AZ (222, referred to as “Cripple Two”), was written-off when Major J. Henning, departed on a test-flight, which turned into a disaster when after take-off he a fire warning in the afterburner section of the aircraft’s tail-pipe. He safely ejected at Air Force Base Hoedspruit.
Information Note: According to Vlamgat (D. Lord): ‘Commandant Graham Rochat was the President of the Board of Inquiry. Amongst the wreckage he found a spanner with chaff marks on it. This could have lodged in the flight controls causing the loss of control. Another possibility was a 30cm piece of elevator control rod that was missing from a position alongside the afterburner section. The afterburner fire could have destroyed this section of the control rod, which would definitely have resulted in serious loss of pitch control.’


1991
Buccaneer ‘414’ conducted last flight at AFB Waterkloof.

1992
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 228 at Jan Smuts Airport – Aviation Africa Airshow.

2005
60 Squadron completed the Gripen Air to Air refuelling trails (see 19/03/2005).

05 April

1941
Operations and Operational Statistics.
1 Squadron. At the end of the Eritrean Campaign, the squadron had claimed a total of one probable ‘kill’, 57 aircraft damaged during airborne engagements and 53 destroyed on the ground.
Deployment Updates.
1 Squadron conducted their last operational mission over Eritrea. The unit had remained at Kasala till the conclusion of the Eritrea Campaign
Sorties
1 Squadron. Five Hurricanes conducted their last Eritrean Campaign sortie, strafing the airfield at Gandar. All 1 Squadron’s aircraft were damaged by enemy ground fire, but returned to base safely.
51 Flight. One Ju-52 flew an Air Support mission from Nairobi to Jijiga (“Giggiga”). A second aircraft ferried from Mogadishu to Germiston.

1943
Accidents and Losses
A 4 Squadron Curtiss P40D (FL712) was written-off.
12 Squadron reported an accident, involving a Boston (Z2190), which resulted in three fatalities when a bomb-bay latch opened and the aircraft lost control in-flight.
25 Squadron reported the loss of a Ventura (6046).

1946
General Information
Air Force Station Saldanha was officially proclaimed an ‘airfield’.

1961
Information Note
The first (prototype version) Mirage IIIE made its maiden flight in France; this was the ‘fighter-bomber’ variant of the Mirage IIIC.

1975
General Information
The first two Mirage F-1CZ’s arrived in South Africa, the cargo was delivered in a 28 Squadron C-130 Hercules. The first two Dassault Breguet Mirage F1CZ (204 and 205) were delivered and 3 Squadron was officially re-formed too.

1979
Accidents and Losses
A Mirage IIID2Z (851), allocated to 85 Combat Flying School “Mirage Flight” was written-off during an accident, in the Pietersburg area. Captain Silberbauer was fatally injured.

1990
Sorties
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 171 at Rand Airport – Africa Aviation Air show.

Drop me a mail or a PM if you have not received the MARCH pdf, I mailed it this morning

06 April

1918
General Information
W.L. Jordan, a South African pilot flying a Sopwith Camel, whilst serving in the Royal Air Force and Royal Naval Air Service (World War 1), shot-down a German Albatros DV. This was his 19th conformed kill.
Samuel Kinkead, a South African serving in the Royal Flying Corps Force, shot-down a German Fokker DR1, whilst flying a Sopwith Camel. This was his 19th confirmed kill.

1941
General Information
Addis Ababa was liberated by Allied Forces (WWII East African campaign).
Operations and Statistics
After a successful campaign, 1 Squadron deployed to Egypt, their combat results in the Sudan operational area is summarized as follows: 48 Air-to-Air victories; 53 enemy aircraft destroyed on ground. 1 Squadron lost six pilots.

1942
Accidents and Losses
A Hurricane belonging to 40 Squadron, crashed during an operational mission. The pilot was captured by enemy forces.
An Anson (1124) crashed due to an in-flight engine fire.

1943
Sorties
1 Squadron. Spitfires flew a total of 71 Combat Air Patrol sorties north of the ‘Gabes Gap’.
Accidents / Losses
Two Airspeed Oxfords (3646 and 3790) were involved in two separate accidents.

1945
Accidents / Losses
A Supermarine Spitfire (PL400) allocated to 2 Squadron was written-off during a forced landing.

1960
Accidents / Losses
A Harvard Mk IIA (7305) crashed when it hit high tension cables at low-level.
General Information
Colonel Verster appointed as Buccaneer Acquisition Project Officer.

1976
Aircraft Delivery
The last Merlin IVA was delivered to the South African Air Force, serial 15.

1982
Sorties
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 69 at Ysterplaat.

1990
Sorties
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 172 at Rand Airport (see 05/04).

1991
Sorties
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 192 at Mykonos.

2002
Sorties
The South African Air Force’s newly acquired Boeing B-737-BBJ (ZS-RSA) made its maiden-flight in the United States of America.

2013
Operations and Statistics
The first ‘cross-border’ deployment (operational) for 2 Squadron, since their last foreign soil deployment to Korea returned to Air Force Makhado from the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Lusaka (Zambia). Four JAS-39 aircraft deployed in support of ‘show of force’ to the DRC following attacks on SANDF Peacekeeping forces.

I have sent the 'March' pdf version, check inbox for your copy if on list, if not received, please inform me.

07 April

1941
A Fairy Battle (906), whilst conducting a mission, crashed into a mountain during bad weather, there were fatalities.

1942
Aircraft Delivery to SAAF: Hart ‘Trainer’ / Serial(s): 2046.

1943
5 Squadron reported the loss of a Curtiss P40D Kittyhawk (AK667) suffered an engine failure after take-off.

1944
12 Squadron reported a ground accident (explosion) that destroyed three of the unit’s aircraft. The serial numbers FB451, FB452 and FB481. Tragically eight members of the unit also suffered fatal injuries related to the accident.
Three Supermarine Spitfires were written-off due to accidents:
3 Squadron: Mk VC (EF631) due to engine failure.
4 Squadron: Mk VC (JG752) was shot down by a Bf-109, the pilot was fatally wounded.
4 Squadron MkVC (JL169), shot down by Luftwaffe Bf-109 and made a crash landing at Biferno.

1976
Buccaneer ‘421’ performed the first ‘600-Series’ post modification test flight.

1979
Aircraft Delivery to SAAF: Impala Mk II serial 1058.

1994
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 276 at Ellisras.

2007
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating PC-7 Mk II) conducted show number 511 and 512 at the Maputo International Air show (Mozambique).

08 April

1918
J. Bell, a South African serving in the Royal Flying Corps Force, shot-down a German ‘balloon’, whilst flying a Sopwith Camel. This was his 15th confirmed kill.

1941
Massawa was occupied by Allied Forces (WWII East African Campaign).
The following sorties were flown:
1 Squadron. Ten aircraft (six reported as Hurricanes), departed to Egypt on a ferry flight.
51 Flight. A Ju-52 flew from Nairobi to Germiston on an Air Support mission.

1943
The following aircraft losses were reported:
Two Hart (429 and 475), were involved in an accident, reported as a mid-air collision.
Two Curtiss P40D Warhawk aircraft belonging to 4 Squadron were lost due to hostile actions; ET-974 was shot down by a Bf-109 and EK-747 was hit by Anti-Aircraft Artillery. The latter made a crash-landing at its home base.

1945
22 Squadron (based at Gibraltar) received a new ‘Link Trainer’.

1983
During Operation RHUBYN a number of Puma and Alouette III (gunships) deployed to Xangongo (Southern Angola), in support of ground operations in the area.

1992
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 229 at Langebaanweg.

1994
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 277 at Ellisras.

1995
The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 317 & 318 at Durban – SAAF-75.

2013
New reports surfaced that the Silver Falcon aerobatic Team had been grounded for 2013 due to budget constraints.

09 April

1942
No 44 Air School (Grahamstown) commend training of Course #04.
40 Squadron reported the loss of two Hurricanes; one pilot was captured by enemy forces.

1943

26 Squadron together with its Special Signals Service (i.e. ‘radar section’), embarked on the Queen Mary from Cape Town to their final destination (Freetown, Sierra Leone).

1945
An 11 Squadron; Curtis P40D Kittyhawk (FT850) was involved in a fatal accident.

1981

The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 49 at Bloemfontein.

1988

The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 144 at Saldanha.

1994

The Silver Falcon Aerobatic Team (operating Impala Mk 1) conducted show number 278 at Louis Trichardt.

2005

A Pilatus PC-7 Mk II (2016) was written-off during a low-level navigation exercise in the Lichtenberg area. The pilot 2/Lt Ramaiti was fatally injured. Also stated to have taken place on 8 April.

10 April

1941

Aircraft Delivery to SAAF: Hawker Hart (Trainer) / Serial(s): 439

The following sorties were flown:

1 Squadron. Nine aircraft (five reported as Hurricanes), departed to Egypt on a ferry flight.
51 Flight. A Ju-52 flew from Cairo to Khartoum to Nairobi on an Air Support mission.

A Hartebeest aircraft belonging to 41 Squadron returned from an operational mission during WWII with no less than 33 Anti-Aircraft-Artillery hits being counted on the fuselage upon landing at its home base!
A Fairy Battle (909) was involved in a fatal accident, during reported bad weather conditions.

Message From: A.O.C. 203 Group (Air Commodore Slatter)
Message To: 1 Squadron
Now that the Eritrean Campaign is over and you are leaving this group, I would sincerely congratulate you all on the work you have done. Your work largely contributed to the success of the whole campaign in that you defeated the Italian Air Force in Eritrea.
As a fighter squadron you have achieved striking success and have built-up a record of which you can be justly proud.
My congratulations not only to the pilots but to maintenance crews too that worked so hard under trying climatic conditions to keep the aircraft serviceable.
Good luck to you all and good hunting!

1942
The following aircraft losses were reported:
A Bristol Blenheim Mk IV was reported to have been written-off following an accident.
A Hind (119) crashed following an incident at Youngsfield.
A Hurricane allocated to 40 Squadron was involved in a fatal accident.

1944
A Vickers Wellington was written-off during an accident.

1945
Two Airspeed Oxfords (3380 and 3390) crashed during unrelated accidents.

1952
An F-51 Mustang (372), allocated to 2 Squadron crashed whilst on an operational mission in Korea, fatally wounding Lt J Holtzhuasen. Attempted to join another flight, but never returned to base.

1975
A 1 Squadron CL13B Sabre Mk.6 (370), crashed after an in-flight fire started, caused by shrapnel from an exploding bomb. The aircraft crashed on the Roodewal Bombing Range, north of Pietersburg. The pilot Capt. FWC Brits successfully ejected from the aircraft. Four years later he was fatally injured in a Mirage F1CZ accident. The Sabre accident was the last CL-13B accident before the aircraft were finally withdrawn from service in 1980.

1991
A Buccaneer S.Mk-50 (416); from 24 Squadron made her final flight from Air Force Base Waterkloof to Air Force Base Ysterplaat where it was delivered to the local branch of the Air Force Museum.

11 April

1918
J. Bell, a South African serving in the Royal Flying Corps Force, shot-down a German Albatros, whilst flying a Sopwith Camel. This was his 16th confirmed kill.

1941
Aircraft Delivery to SAAF: Hart ‘Trainer’ (456) / Hind (186 and 188)
The following sorties were flown:
1 Squadron. Four Hurricanes ferried to Egypt
51 Flight. A Ju-52 flew Air Support from Nairobi to Jigajiga.
Accidents and Losses
A Hartbees reportedly crashed.

1942
Deployment Updates:
1 Squadron. Deployed to El Gamil airfield in Port Said, under command of 250 Wing.
Accidents and Losses
A Hart I (328) was involved in a fatal accident.
4 Squadron reported the loss of the following Curtis Tomahawk aircraft: AN297: Crash-Landing after being shot by Luftwaffe Bf-109; AN325 shot down by Luftwaffe Bf-109; AM442 shot down, pilot fatally wounded; AN339 Pilot fatally wounded and finally AK638 Pilot Prisoner of War. (All C/L)

1943
1 Squadron deployed to Fauconnerie.

1944
Accidents and Losses
An Anson (4425) was written-off during a take-off accident from George, it reportedly collided with another Anson (4418).

1950
Accidents and Losses
A Harvard Mk IIA (7238) crashed during a night flying sortie.

1974
Aircraft Deliveries
P-166S Albatross: 897

1991
Accidents and Losses
During a weapons demonstration sortie by a four-ship Impala flight, 85 Combat Flying School, one of the aircraft was involved in a fatal accident approximately 700 meters short of Runway 05. The aircraft serial number was 1041.

Re. the 4 Squadron losses today, 11 April 1942:

7 Tomahawks led by Major D.D. "Snowy" Moodie were vectored onto an Axis raid southwest of Gazala that kept growing. Initially a dozen or so, eventually over 50 Me 109's, Mc 202's and Ju 87's. Only Derick Moodie and Ronnie Jackson made it back to base at Gasr-el-Arid.

The five that didn't return:
AN297 was Lt. WE Langerman, known as 'Bushy' or 'Shorty'. He walked and hitch-hiked back to base.
AN339 and AM442 were flown by Lt's Rodney Denehy and George Donaldson, both of whom were shot down by axis fighters, Denehy died in hospital later in the day.
AK638 was Lt. David Frye, who became a POW.

AN325 was Lt. Melville Duff-Richardson, who was located in 62 General Hospital in Tobruk on the 12th. He had been shot down not by a Me 109 but, as he told me when I interviewed him in Australia in 2012, by British AA fire. Shells came through the bottom of his cockpit and severely wounded him in the left leg. He crash-landed near Bir Hacheim, where French Foreign Legion soldiers picked him up and took him to their hospital. This was 8 hours after he was hit and his leg was beyond saving. A French surgeon amputated his leg above the knee and he was transferred to the larger hospital in Tobruk afterwards. He got infection in his leg and was touch-and-go for two weeks until surgeons opened up his wounds and cleaned them properly. After that he recovered quickly. He told me he decided not to bail out because he was afraid he would get shot in his chute by enemy fighters.

I became friends with 'Duff' as he was known and attended his 99th birthday party in 2015. I was invited to the Big 100 but he only made it to 99 1/2. A gentleman and an extraordinary man, he didn't let the loss of a leg slow him down. He took part in the inaugural Cape to Rio yacht race, and was a sailor of repute among many other achievements.

I thought of him today. RIP, Duff.

Thanks Upsun, wonderful tribute to a brave man (as they all were).

_________________
How come every time my ship comes in, I'm at the airport?

Indeed Dean, thanks for the additional info there Upsun.

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A plan is simply a basis for change.