THE AIRFORCE - SQUADRONS
SAAF Band
"Semper in Concentu"
At the end of the Second World War the band, formerly known as the Union Defence Force Band, was disbanded due to the circumstances at the time. The late Capt Harry Philips, former member of this Union Defence Force Band, founded the SAAF Band as its first Bandmaster in 1946. Since the band's inception it has played a prominent role in public life, by entertaining members of the SA Air Force, the SA National Defence Force and the public.
The core business of the SAAF Band was then, and remains, providing music at ceremonial occasions. This include military parades, memorial services, reception of dignitaries from visiting countries, etc. The band also provides various kinds of entertainment, including performing music at military balls, providing music at tea and cocktail parties, accompanying mass choirs at music festivals, providing music at open air concerts, hosting prestige concerts, performing background music at formal dinners and functions, etc.
The band has also been privileged to perform at other major national events, such as the unveiling of the new South African Coat of Arms by President Mbeki in Bloemfontein and the unveiling of the new SANDF Emblem at the Air Force Gymnasium.
A highlight in the SAAF Band history was certainly the international exposure it received in September-October 2000, when it was invited to the World Peace Fanfare in South Korea. The band had the opportunity to perform together with sixteen other military bands from fourteen countries.
The SAAF Band has had many different small groups within the band which have performed at various official functions. These groups included classical and light music pianists, a piano and trumpet ensemble, flute and saxophone played with music back tracks, a saxophone quartet, brass quintet, woodwind quintet, jazz trio, clarinet soloist, dance band, bonsai band (a small Big-Band) and numerous other combinations. The band hopes to further expand its small group capacity in the near future, as the demand for ensembles as increased extensively.
Service in the SAAF Band has serve as a firm foundation for the careers of many members, past and present, who have subsequently made a great impact on the local and international music environment.
Other Squadrons based at Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing:
140 Squadron, 142 Squadron, 18 Deployment Support Unit, 4 Air Servicing Unit, 500 Squadron, 501 Squadron, 92 Tactical Airfield Unit, Mobile Communications Unit, SAAF Procurement Unit, School of Cookery
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, 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 Museum Historic Flight, SAAF Police, SAAF Procurement Unit, SAAF Telecommunications Centre, School of Cookery, Test Flight and Development Centre
