South African Air Force
| South African Air Force | |
|---|---|
South African Air Force emblem
|
|
| Founded | 1 February 1920 |
| Country |
 South Africa |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Air supremacy, air defence |
| Size | 226 Aircraft 10,815 (Active personnel) 831 (Reserve Personnel) |
| Part of | South African National Defence Force |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Per aspera ad astra (Through hardships to the stars) |
| Battle honours |
|
| Commanders | |
| Chief of the Air Force | Lt Gen Fabian Msimang |
| Insignia | |
| Roundels |
 .svg)
|
| Ensign |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Rooivalk |
| Electronic warfare |
Oryx EW, C-47TP ELINT |
| Fighter | Gripen C/D |
| Patrol | C-47TP, Lynx 300 |
| Trainer | PC-7, Hawk |
| Transport |
C-47TP, C-130BZ, Oryx, Agusta A109, CASA 212, Cessna Caravan |
C-47TP, C-130BZ, Oryx, Agusta A109, CASA 212, Cessna Caravan
The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force has seen service in World War II and the Korean War. From 1966 the SAAF was involved in providing infantry support in a low intensity war ("The Border War") in Angola, South-West Africa (Namibia) and Rhodesia. As the war progressed, the intensity of air operations increased until in the late 1980s, the SAAF were compelled to fly fighter missions against Angolan aircraft in order to maintain tactical air superiority. On conclusion of the Border War in 1990, aircraft numbers were severely reduced due to economic pressures as well as the cessation of hostilities with neighboring states. Today the SAAF has a limited air combat capability and has been structured towards regional peace-keeping, disaster relief and maritime patrol operations.
After a visit to observe the 1912 military manoeuvres in Europe, Brig. Gen. C.F. Beyers (who was then Commandant-General of the Defence Force) gave an extremely positive report on the future use of aircraft for military purposes to General Smuts. Smuts initiated an arrangement with private fliers in the Cape and established a flying school at Alexandersfontein near Kimberley, known as the Paterson Aviation Syndicate School, to train pilots for the proposed South African Aviation Corps. Flying training commenced in 1913 with students who excelled on the course being sent to the Central Flying School at Upavon in Great Britain for further training. The first South African military pilot qualified on 2 June 1914.
At the outbreak of World War I, the Union Defence Force had realised the urgent need for air support which brought about the establishment of the South African Aviation Corps (SAAC) on 29 January 1915. Aircraft were purchased from France (Henri Farman F-27) while the building of an airfield at Walvis Bay commenced in earnest in order to support operations against German forces in German South West Africa. By June 1915 the SAAC was deployed to its first operational airfield at Karibib in German South West Africa in support of Gen. Botha's South African ground forces. The SAAC flew reconnaissance and leaflet dropping missions from Karibib and later from Omaruru, where improvised bombing missions were added when pilots started dropping hand grenades and rudimentary bombs by hand. On 9 July 1915, the German forces capitulated and most of the pilots and aircraft of the SAAC were sent to Britain in support of the Commonwealth war effort.
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Wikipedia