THE AIRFORCE - SQUADRONS
15 Squadron
"Aquila Petit Ardua" (The Eagle Seeks the Heights)
September 1939 saw the formation of this squadron at Germiston with three former SAA Junkers Ju-86 airliners used for maritime patrols. After moving to Wingfield in the Cape the squadron was absorbed as A Flight of 32 Squadron.
Reborn on 1 June 1941, the squadron fought in East Africa, flying Fairey Battles. After a brief spell in Pretoria, the squadron headed for Aden and then Egypt in early 1942 where they converted to the Blenheim IV and later, in July 1942, to the Blenheim V. By January 1943 the squadron had moved to Cyprus to fly anti-submarine patrols whereafter they converted to the Baltimore IIIA, IV and V. In August 1944 the squadron moved to Italy where they remained until being disbanded in August 1945.
The squadron was reformed in June 1967 at AFB Swartkop to fly the new Super Frelon helicopter. On 19 February 1969 'B Flight' was formed in Bloemfontein. Towards the end of 1980 'A Flight' at Swartkop transfered to AFB Ysterplaat as 30 Squadron and 'B Flight' at Bloemspruit transfered to Durban as 15 Squadron. operating both the Super Frelon and the Alouette III. After the Super Frelons were retired in 1991, the squadron continued with the Puma and Alouette III. The Pumas were then replaced by the Oryx during 1994 and a little while later the Alouettes were replaced by the BK117.
The squadron also operates a 'C Flight' from AFS Port Elizabeth with the BK117.
Other Squadrons based at Air Force Base Durban:
105 Squadron, 508 Squadron
Other Current Squadrons:
1 Air Servicing Unit, 10 Air Depot, 10 Squadron, 101 Squadron, 102 Squadron, 104 Squadron, 105 Squadron, 106 Squadron, 107 Squadron, 108 Squadron, 110 Squadron, 111 Squadron, 140 Squadron, 142 Squadron, 15 Squadron - 'C' Flight, 16 Squadron, 17 Squadron, 18 Deployment Support Unit, 19 Squadron, 2 Air Servicing Unit, 2 Squadron, 21 Squadron, 22 Squadron, 28 Squadron, 3 Air Servicing Unit, 35 Squadron, 41 Squadron, 44 Squadron, 5 Air Servicing Unit, 500 Squadron, 501 Squadron, 502 Squadron, 503 Squadron, 504 Squadron, 505 Squadron, 506 Squadron, 508 Squadron, 514 Squadron, 515 Squadron, 516 Squadron, 525 Squadron, 526 Squadron, 6 Air Servicing Unit, 60 Squadron, 68 Air School, 80 Air Navigation School, 85 Combat Flying School, 87 Helicopter Flying School, 92 Tactical Airfield Unit, Air Force Command and Control School, Air Force Gymnasium, Air Publications Service Centre, Airspace Control Unit, Bushveld Airspace Control Sector, Central Flying School, Central Photographic Institute, Combined Auction Centre, Command and Control School, Electronic Warfare Centre, Ellisras Reporting Post, Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre, Lowveld Airspace Control Sector, Mobile Communications Unit, Rapid Deployment Air Operations Team 43, Rapid Deployment Air Operations Team 46, SA Air Force College, SAAF Band, SAAF Museum Historic Flight, SAAF Police, SAAF Procurement Unit, SAAF Telecommunications Centre, School of Cookery, Test Flight and Development Centre
