The SAAF Forum

This freezing weather is keeping me indoors .... almost done with the FB.Mk5



I don't have any pics of Vampires in service with N° 2 squadron ... anybody got ? Apparently they had red noses, red wingtips & red bullet at the tail-fin.

Cheers

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Brent Best

Looking awesome!!! In your list of Vampires to-do, could you please to a Bumbling Bee Vampire?

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There are only two types of aircraft — fighters and targets.

Detailed information about Vampires that served with 2 Squadron is very limited but one thing is definite - the red trimming was not used by 2 Squadron. The Vampires of the "Bumbling Bees" Aerobatic team from the AOS at Langebaanweg for a short period used red trimming and as far as can be determined only one had red nose, wing tips and rear boom "Bullets".

It would appear that Vampires during that period were assigned to AFS Waterkloof and both 1 and 2 Squadron shared the same aircraft (by then the AX codes of 1 Squadron had also fallen away) and no distinctive markings were carried on these aircraft.

Awesome, thanks flyingspringbok !!!

Bumbling Bee will definitively be done

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Brent Best

This is the only personal photo I have of a red nosed SAAF vampire:



Unfortunately it is only the cockpit/nose section & I have no idea as to which squadron the badge belongs to.

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So few, who did so much, with so little - the RhAF 1970 - 1980

Would the number on the nosewheel be of any help in identifying it?

Thanks Vulcan

The badge & number 254 indicates this nose is from a FB.9 of the Air Operations School.

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Brent Best

I have this for the Bumble Bee.


Source .... SA Flyer Magazine .. I think.

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Brent Best

237 was the only Vampire to carry these markings - the second of the BB, no 235, had only the red "Tulip" nose and the third, no 228, had no distinctive markings at all.

AOS Vampires in the 1950s had red noses which lined up with the removable nose cowling and went right around the nose. After 1961 Dayglo Orange (which appears darker than that usually seen these days on ex-SAAF Harvards) was introduced and was applied on the nose (usually as far down as the removable gun tube panels) and as bands on the tail booms and wings.

Thanks flyingspringbok .. this is great info

Another pic of #237.

Source: Squadron and Special Markings of the Post War SAAF - 1946-1959 by Ivan Spring

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Brent Best

F.B. 52 #213 of Air operations School.


Source: On Wings of Eagles by Dave Becker

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Brent Best

F.B.9 #235


Source: On Wings of Eagles by Dave Becker

Ok .. now it is drawing time

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Brent Best

Unless I've missed something ... the FB.5 / F.B.52 template is done


De Havilland Vampire F.B.5, N°1 Squadron, AFS Waterkloof, 1950.

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Brent Best

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Brent Best

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Brent Best