SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE

FIRST WORLD WAR

In April 1914, six South African officers were sent to Great Britain to attend a pilot formation and training. When the War broke out, these men received the authorization to serve in the Royal Flying Corps. Nearly 3000 South Africans served in the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service then in the Royal Air Force during the Great War and 260 lost their lives.

The South African Aviation Corps was formed in February 1915 and two BE2a and six Maurice Farman F27 took part in the German South West Africa campaign. The Corps continued in this aerial reconnaisance role in German East Africa until mid-1918.

The most famous South African pilot is the Captain Anthony Frederick Weatherby BEAUCHAMP PROCTOR, who, in ten months, achieved 54 victories, and was awarded the Victoria Cross.

A.F.W. Beauchamp-Proctor

The South African Air Force (SAAF) was formed on the 1st February 1920 with Colonel Pierre Van Ryneveld as leader.

SECOND WORLD WAR

   At the outbreak of the War, the SAAF had 1837 men in its ranks. At the end of the War, 44569 volunteers had served in its units.

The SAAF carried out the first South African action in the War when Junkers 86 of the 12th Squadron bombed Italian objectives at Moyale in Somaliland on the day after Italy declared War, on the 11^th June 1940.

The SAAF played a very important role in North Africa where its fighters, bombers and observation squadrons formed one-third of the Desert Air Force. From April 1941 to May 1943, the eleven South African squadrons carried out 33 991 missions, destroying 342 ennemy aircrafts. Their heaviest losses were in May-June1942, incurred trying to protect French troops at Bir-Hakeim.

P40 fighters of N°2 and N°4 Squadrons, SAAF, taking off.

The SAAF continued to support the Allied armies when the fighting moved to Italy and the Aegean (1943-1945). The hardest and most heroic missions made by South African airmen during this campaign was in attempting to supply the Polish Home Army in Warsaw. Flying 1700 miles through several night-fighter areas and braving heavy anti-aircraft fire at altitudes of 200 feet above the city, they gave their best to no avail, for Germans crushed the uprising before the Red Army resumed its advance. The Warsaw Concerto operation (August-September 1944) cost the SAAF nine out of twenty B24 commited to the operation.

Warsaw Concerto Roll of Honour

Many South Africans served in the RAF, the most famous being Marmaduke Thomas Pattle credited with 51 victories.

The SAAF served on the following theatres of operations :

Edwin Swales

THE BERLIN AIRLIFT

The SAAF took part in the Berlin Airlift in 1948, commiting twenty crews flying on Dakotas of the RAF. They flew 2500 supply missions without loss.

THE KOREAN WAR

As a founder and stalwart of the United Nations during its formative years, South Africa decided to give its support to South Korea in that country's struggle against North Korea and Red China. The 2nd Squadron of the SAAF, nicknamed The Flying Cheetahs, was attached to the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing and had more than 800 men during its three years in Korea. Flying on Mustang then on Sabre, the Squadron established a fine reputation and, although rough conditions, maintained a high daily average of missions. From November 1950 to July 1953, its pilots flew 12 405 sorties. They were credited with destroying 18 tanks, 160 field guns, 615 vehicles, 4 locomotives, 200 railway trucks, 46 road and rail bridges, 49 petrol and oil dumps and 3 021 buildings. The Squadron lost 79 planes and sustained 36 men killed.

South African Mustang in Korea