2 Squadron SAAF
2 Squadron | |
---|---|
United States Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | |
Battle honours | East Africa 1941 The Juba & The Lakes; Western Desert 1941–1943 Sidi Rezegh Agedabia Gazala El Alamein; French North Africa 1943 El Hamma & Tunis Mediterranean 1943 South East Europe 1944–1945 Italy 1943–1945, The Sangro & Gothic Line Korea 1950–1953, Pyongyang |
Insignia | |
Squadron Identification Code | DB (1939–1945)[2]: 14c |
2 Squadron crest |
2 Squadron is a squadron in the
World War II
The squadron was established on 1 October 1940, when the two
On arrival in Egypt, the squadron received Hurricanes as temporary equipment until it could convert to its planned equipment of Curtiss Tomahawks. A detachment of the squadron's Hurricanes operated over the front from Sidi Haneish Airfield from the end of May while the rest of the squadron continued to work up on Tomahawks.[9] By July 1941, it had fully converted to and was operational on the Tomahawk.[10][11]
During the initial years of the war, 2 Squadron served as part of 1 Bomber Brigade in the East African campaign and the North African campaign. After August 1943, it also saw action in Sicily, Italy and Yugoslavia.[3]
During the Second World War the squadron operated the following aircraft:
- Hawker Hartebeest
- Hawker Fury I[12]
- Gloster Gauntlet
- Gloster Gladiator II
- Hawker Hurricane
- Tomahawk IIBJune 1941 – May 1942
- Kittyhawk IApril 1942 – June 1943
- Kittyhawk IIIJune 1943 – July 1943
- Supermarine Spitfire Vc July 1943 – March 1944
- Supermarine Spitfire IX February 1944 – July 1945
Korean War
The squadron was South Africa's contribution to the United Nations war effort during the Korean War from November 1950 to December 1953.
2 Squadron
- Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (ROK)
- Presidential Unit Citation (USA)
For its actions, the squadron received the
The
In memory of our gallant South African comrades, it is hereby established, as a new policy that at all Retreat Ceremonies held by this Wing, the playing of our National Anthem shall be preceded by playing the introductory bars of the South African National Anthem, 'Die Stem van Suid-Afrika'. All personnel of this Wing will render the same honours to this Anthem as our own.
Eleven Korean War SAAF casualties are buried at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Busan, South Korea.
After the Korean War 2 Squadron, based at Waterkloof AFB, was equipped with
The Border War and post 2000
Conversion to the new
They continued to fly the Mirages until October 1990. They later re-equipped with the Atlas Cheetah C and D, but remained 'on the books' during the hiatus between Mirage and Cheetah, not being officially disbanded at that point. Reconnaissance was also performed using Vinten Vicon 18 Series 601 pod. Regular night flying was performed and the aircrew also performed air-to-air refuelling operations with the Boeing 707 aircraft of 60 Squadron, until these were retired in 2007. The squadron participated in the annual SANDF force preparation exercises which includes using live weapons. During joint exercises with the German Air Force in 2006, 40 live V3S "Snake" short-range air-to-air missiles were fired at the Denel Overberg Test Range.[17]
Moving to Louis Trichardt (now
The last of the Cheetahs were retired on 2 April 2008, later that month the first new
Aircraft operated 1945–present
- North American F-51D MustangJuly 1945 – 1953
- North American F-86F Sabre1953
- de Havilland Vampire 1953–56
- Canadair Sabre Mk.6 1956–63
- Dassault Mirage III 1963–89
- Atlas Cheetah C and D 1988–2008
- JAS 39 Gripen2008–present
See also
References
- ^ a b c d "THE SQUADRONS INCEPTION". South African Air Force. Archived from the original on 25 September 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ISBN 0-86843-008-0.
- ^ a b "Squadron 2". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ^ Shores 1996, p. 63
- ^ Shores 1996, pp. 64, 70
- ^ Shores 1996, pp. 92–93
- ^ Shores 1996, p. 138
- ^ Shores 1996, p. 149
- ^ Shores, Massimello & Guest 2012, pp. 162, 204
- ^ Shores, Massimello & Guest 2012, p. 239
- ^ Halley 1988, p. 538
- ^ Macdonald, J.F. (1945). "Chapter II – The Story of 237 Squadron". Lion with tusk guardant. Salisbury, South Rhodesia: The Rhodesian Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd. p. 23.
- ^ Laurent, PARRA. "SQUADRON 2 - SAAF - Flying Cheetahs". www.cieldegloire.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ISSN 0026-4016. Archived from the originalon 23 August 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ISBN 978-0-9583880-9-2.
- ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ "2 Squadron participation in exercise Good Hope II". South African Air Force. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
- ISBN 0-621-36083-X. Archived from the original(PDF) on 30 May 2009. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
Bibliography
- Halley, James J (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
- Shores, Christopher (1996). Dust Clouds in the Middle East: The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940–42. London: Grub Street. ISBN 1-898697-37-X.
- Shores, Christopher; Massimello, Giovanni; Guest, Russell (2012). A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940–1945: Volume One: North Africa: June 1940 – January 1942. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-908117-07-6.