South African Air Force

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South African Air Force
Ensign of the South African Air Force.svg
The SAAF Ensign
Active Aviation Corps founded: 1912
Became independent: 1920
Country South Africa
Part of South African National Defence Force
Motto Per Aspera Ad Astra
Commanders
Chief of the Air Force Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano
Insignia
Roundel Roundel of South African Air Force.svgRoundel of South African Air Force-LOW VISIBILITY.svg
Aircraft flown
Attack Rooivalk
Electronic
warfare		 Oryx stand off radar jammer, Oryx stand off communications jammer, ELINT C-47 Turbo Dakota
Fighter Gripen C/D
Patrol C-47 Turbo Dakota, Super Lynx 300
Trainer PC-7 MKII Astra, Hawk Mk 120
Transport C-47TP, C-130BZ Hercules, Oryx, Agusta A109, CASA 212 Aviocar, CASA CN-235, Cessna Caravan

The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra (Through Adversity to the Stars). An official slogan, Through Diversity To Airpower Excellence, is also used.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Origins and first flying school

Replica of the Patterson No. 2 Biplane at the South African Air Force Museum

The first winged flight in South Africa is thought to have been made in 1871 by Goodman Household in a primitive glider in the Karkloof district in Natal.[1] The first powered flight is attributed to Cecil Bredell and Alfred Raison who flew a replica of a Bleriot Monoplane in Highlands North, Johannesburg on 30 April 1911.[1] In December 1911 two visiting aviators; Cecil Compton Patterson flying a Patterson No. 2 Biplane and Evelyn Driver flying a Bleriot biplane, started flying demonstration flights in the Cape and aroused significant public and government interest to the possibilities of powered flight in South Africa. Prompted by the Patterson / Driver displays, General Jan Smuts (Minister of Defence) sent General Brig Gen C.F. Beyers (Commandant-General of the Defence Force) to Britain to observe the 1912 military maneuvers and to report on the viability of using aircraft in military operations. Beyers' response was extremely supportive and encouraging of the establishment of an air corps. By this time the Patterson / Driver flying syndicate had dissolved and in 1912 Patterson and the Union Defence force reached an agreement to establish a flying school at Alexandersfontein in Kimberley, known as the Paterson Aviation Syndicate School to train pilots for the proposed South African Aviation Corps (SAAC).[2] Basic flying training commenced in 1913 using a Compton-Paterson biplane[3] and six of the students who completed the basic training were sent to the Central Flying School at Upavon in the United Kingdom for further training. Lt. Kennith van der Spuy passed his final examination on 2 June 1914 and was granted the certificate of the Royal Aero Club, becoming South Africa's first qualified military pilot.[4] The others passed a few days later, with five of them eventually qualifying.[Note 1] On qualifying, the Union Defense Force granted permission for these aviators to be seconded to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC).[2]

[edit] World War I

World War I broke out in August 1914 and in September 1914, South African troops invaded German West Africa. Early in the campaign the Union Defense Force had realised the need for air support, having seen German reconnaissance aircraft above their advancing columns and later, after South African troops had been attacked by German aircraft. This emphasised the urgency for the need of an air corps and prompted the establishment of the South African Aviation Corps on 29 January 1915.[4] In response to urgent calls for aircraft, Sir Abe Bailey lead a delegation in an attempt to acquire American aircraft and pilots for the SAAC to support the South African war effort, but the Wright double-wing aircraft earmarked for purchase were found to be unsuitable after testing in Britain.[5] British aircraft (being of wooden construction) were also considered unsuitable for the hot and dry conditions of German West Africa and it was subsequently decided to purchase twelve tubular steel framed French Henri Farman F-27 aircraft, powered by Canton-Unné radial engines.[5] Capt. Wallace was recalled from the RFC and oversaw the purchase of the aircraft in France while Lt's Turner and Emmett were recalled to coordinate the building of an airfield at Walvis Bay and to prepare for the recruitment of 75 prospective pilots.

The crest of No. 26 Squadron RAF depicting a Springbok head and Afrikaans motto

Due to a lack of steel tube in France, delivery of the Henri Farmans was delayed and the British government offered four B.E.2c's as interim aircraft and also provided three RFC pilots. Eventually, only two B.E.2c's and six Henri Farmans were delivered, with the last aircraft arriving in the Union on 15 May 1915. In addition, the SAAC received two Jeannin Taube monoplanes which had been captured while en route to German West Africa by British Forces in Douala. Although not air-worthy, these two aircraft were pressed into SAAC service for ground training at the Cape Town Drill Hall soon after their arrival in February 1915.[6]

By June 1915 the SAAC commanded by Major Gerard Wallace, was deployed to its first operational airfield at Karabib in German West Africa. Operations were in support of Gen. Botha's South African ground forces, flying reconnaissance and leaflet dropping missions from Karbib and later from Omaruru, where improvised bombing missions were added when pilots started dropping hand grenades and rudimentary bombs by hand.[7] 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.


Although the SAAC remained active, its activities were limited to ground training at the Cape Town Drill Hall using the two Jeannin Taubes and two damaged (and now no longer air-worthy) B.E.2c's, while the pilots who had been detached to the RFC were grouped to form No. 26 Squadron RFC at Netharavon, becoming an independent squadron on 8 October 1915. No. 26 Squadron was equipped with the ex-SAAC Henri Farman F-27's used in German West Africa and B.E.2c's from the RFC. Shortly after becoming operational, the squadron was shipped to Kenya in support of the war effort in German East Africa, landing in Mombasa on 31 January 1916.[8]


The eight aircraft had been shipped in wooden crates and were re-assembled in Mombassa and then flown to a forward airfield prepared inside German East Africa at Mbuyuni, with the South African and British pilots of 26 Squadron (now known as "The South Africa Squadron") being billeted in tents close to their aircraft.[9] The squadron flew reconnaissance and observer missions throughout the campaign until February 1918.[10] The squadron was returned to the UK via Cape Town and arrived at Blandford Camp on 8 July 1918 and was disbanded the same day.[11]

While the SAAC were engaged in German West and East Africa, many South Africans traveled to the United Kingdom to enlist with the Royal Flying Corps.[10] The number of South Africans in the RFC eventually reached approximately 3,000 men and suffered 260 active-duty fatalities. South African airmen took part in aerial reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions over the Somme during the war. Forty six pilots became fighter aces shooting down five or more enemy aircraft, with the most successful, Andrew Beauchamp-Proctor being the British Empire's fourth most successful ace with 54 victories.[12][13]

A number of South Africans took part in the civil war which took place in Eastern Europe between 1917 and 1920. The North Russian Expeditionary Force had an RFC and RNAS detachment which landed in Murmansk in June 1918 and a second expeditionary force with further air assets arrived in 1919. A Sopwith Camel equipped flight of No. 47 Squadron RAF was commanded by South African Capt. Sam Kinkead and a number of South African pilots flew with the squadron, amongst them Kennith van der Spuy who was to become Director-General of Technical Services in the Union Defence Forces from 1940 to 1945 as well as Pierre van Ryneveld who was to become the Chief of Staff of the Union Defence Force during the Second World War.[10]

[edit] Inter-war period

On February 1, 1920 the South African Air Force was established with Col. Pierre van Ryneveld as the Director Air Services.[14] The establishment of the SAAF was greatly facilitated by the generous decision by the British Government in 1919 to allocate to the Union some 100 aeroplanes from its war stocks, complete with spares and associated equipment. These were joined by a further 13 aircraft from other sources making a total of 113 aircraft. Similar gifts were made to Australia and New Zealand at the time. In April 1921 a site at Swartkop, three kilometres east of what was then Roberts Heights was selected and taken over as the site for the first aerodrome.

The SAAF's first operation was in 1922, when it helped to crush the Rand Revolt, an armed uprising by white mineworkers. The SAAF bombed targets around Johannesburg, and lost some aircraft to ground fire. Col. Sir Pierre van Ryneveld himself was shot down, but survived.

In 1934 a significant increase in the defence budget was approved and in 1935 the Minister of Defence announced that the UDF was to be expanded.

[edit] World War II

Despite the expansions, the start of World War II in 1939 caught the SAAF unprepared. This caused the establishment of the Joint Air Training Scheme (JATS) in order to train Royal Air Force (RAF), SAAF and other allied air and ground crews at 38 South African-based air schools. This expanded the number of military aircraft in the SAAF to 1,709 by September 1941, with a personnel strength of 31,204 (956 pilots).

March/April 1942, Landing Ground 121, Egypt. Lieutenant Robin Pare (left), Major John "Jack" Frost (centre) and Captain Andrew Duncan (right) of 5 Squadron SAAF, part of the Desert Air Force. All three had been killed in action by the end of June. Frost, the squadron commander, was the highest scoring ace in an SAAF unit during World War II.
  • Italy (1943–45): 2, 3 and 7 Wings fought in operations to liberate Italy from German occupation.
  • Yugoslavia (1943–44): 7 Wing supported partisan operations against German occupation forces.
  • France (1944): A detachment took part in the Franco-American invasion of southern France.
  • Balkans (1944–45): Some squadrons served with the Balkan Air Force in operations over Hungary, Romania and Albania.
  • Warsaw (1944): 2 Wing air-supplied Warsaw during Warsaw Uprising.
  • Greece (1944): 2 Wing supported British operations to liberate Greece and suppress the communist coup.

In particular, the SAAF played a major role in North Africa, where its fighter, bomber and reconnaissance squadrons enabled the Allied Desert Air Force to attain air superiority over the Axis air forces by the beginning of 1942. Between April 1941 and May 1943 the eleven squadrons of the SAAF flew 33,991 sorties and destroyed 342 enemy aircraft, producing a number of SAAF WWII air aces in the process, including John Frost, Sailor Malan, Gerald Stapleton and Marmaduke Pattle.

[edit] Post-War

Post-war, the SAAF also took part in the Berlin airlift of 1948 with 20 aircrews flying Royal Air Force Dakotas. 4133 tons of supplies were carried in 1240 missions flown.[17]:338

In the Korean War, the famous 2 Squadron ("The Flying Cheetahs") took part as South Africa's contribution. It won many American decorations, including the unusual honour of a United States Presidential Unit Citation in 1952:

2 Sqn had a long and distinguished record of service in Korea flying P-51D Mustangs and later F-86F Sabres. Their role was mainly flying ground attack and interdiction missions as one of the squadrons making up the USAF's 18th Fighter Bomber Wing.
During the Korean conflict the squadron flew a grand total of 12 067 sorties for a loss of 34 pilots and two other ranks. Aircraft losses amounted to 74 out of 97 Mustangs and four out of 22 Sabres. Pilots and men of the squadron received a total of 797 medals including 2 Silver Stars - the highest award to non-American nationals - 3 Legions of Merit, 55 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 40 Bronze Stars.[18]

2 Squadron's casualties included 8 prisoners-of-war, 20 men killed in action, and 16 wounded in action.[18]

When the Union Defence Forces were reorganised into individual services in 1951, the SAAF became an arm of service in its own right, under an Air Chief of Staff (who was renamed "Chief of the Air Force" in 1966). It adopted a blue uniform, to replace the army khaki it had previously worn.

The SAAF was scaled down in the 1950s, and rebuilt in the 1960s, after South Africa had become a republic, but before diplomatic isolation and the United Nations arms embargo had begun to have an effect.

In 1960 the SAAF had three groups - Inland Group, Maritime Group, and Maintenance Group. (Official Yearbook of the Union of South Africa, 1960)

[edit] Border War

From 1966 to 1989, the SAAF was committed to the Border War, which was fought in northern South West Africa and surrounding states. At first, it provided limited air support to police operations against the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (the military wing of SWAPO, which was fighting to end South African rule of South West Africa). Operations intensified after the defence force took charge of the war in 1974.

[edit] Angola campaign

The SAAF provided air support to the army during the 1975-76 Angola campaign, and in the many cross-border operations that were carried out against PLAN bases in Angola and Zambia from 1977 onwards.

At least two MIG-21s of the Angolan Air Force were shot down by 3 Squadron SAAF Mirage F1s in 1981 and 1982.[19]

The SAAF was also heavily involved in the 1987-88 Angola campaign, before the peace settlement that ended the conflict. The international arms embargo imposed against the then-apartheid government of South Africa, meant that the SAAF was unable to procure modern fighter aircraft to compete with the sophisticated Soviet-supplied air defence network and Cuban MiG-23s fielded in the latter part of this conflict.[20]

[edit] Since 1994

After the first multi-racial elections were held in 1994, the SAAF became an integrated air force as part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

As of 2007 the SAAF has about 8 000 regular uniformed members augmented by about 1 500 civilians and roughly 900 reserves. A budget of R9 billion (roughly US$1.1 billion at March 2008 exchange rates) was allocated for FY2008\2009.[21] The reason for the apparent large increase over the previous financial year's amount of roughly US$350 million, is the fact that in the 2008/2009 budget documents, the payments for new aircraft acquisitions have been included in the regular air force budget and then again, in the special defence account budget.

The SAAF does suffer from a severe shortage of pilots and technical personnel. The impact of this is that the combat force is in effect smaller than it appears on paper. There are currently 60 posts for combat pilots, of which only 34 are filled. Other numbers include: Helicopter Pilots; 167 with 58 vacant posts; Transport Pilots 156 with 48 vacant posts; and the SAAF also has currently 12 vip and 7 maritime pilots. Of the 1630 posts for technical support crew, only 763 are filled. Engineers are down too from 122 posts with only 52 filled.

However, the South African National Defence Force was to recruit 11,000 new soldiers, airmen, sailors and medics in 2010, taking advantage of a R700 million allocation for that purpose in Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s February budget.

[edit] Symbols

[edit] Rank insignia

In 2002 the Air Force officer rank insignia was changed from one which was shared with the Army to a new pattern based on stripes. The Air Force stated that this was "in order to bring it more in line with international forms of rank".[22]

NATO Code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D) Student Officer
South Africa South Africa Ltgen.jpg SAAF Mgen.jpg Bgen.jpg SAAF col.jpg SAAF ltcol.jpg SAAF maj.jpg SAAF capt.jpg SAAF lt.jpg SAAF 2lt.jpg ‎ SAAF-Candidate Offr.svg
General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain Lieutenant Second Lieutenant No equivalent Candidate Officer

[edit] Ensign
2003-present  
1994-2003  
1982-1994  
1981-1982  
1970-1981  
1967-1970  
1958-1967  
1951-1958  
1940-1951  
1920-1940  

[edit] Roundel
2003-present  
2003-present
(low-visibility)  
1982-2003  
1982-2003
(low-visibility)  
1981-1982  
1958-1981  
1958-1981
(low-visibility)  
1947-1958  
1927-1947  
1920-1927  

[edit] Order of battle and equipment

[edit] Squadrons

Main article: List of squadrons of the South African Air Force

[edit] Aircraft Inventory

Main article: List of aircraft of the South African Air Force
Class Aircraft Country of Origin Type Variants Number in service
Fighter Saab Gripen  Sweden Multirole fighter C and D (single and twin seat) 22[24][Note 5]
Trainer British Aerospace Hawk  United Kingdom Lead in fighter trainer Mk120 24[Note 6]
Pilatus PC-7 MkII  Switzerland Trainer PC-7 MkII 52[Note 7]
Helicopter Atlas Oryx  South Africa Medium transport helicopter MKI and MKII 40[Note 8]
Denel Rooivalk  South Africa Attack helicopter Mk I 11[Note 9]
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117  Germany Utility helicopter BK 117 4[Note 10]
Agusta A109  Italy Light utility helicopter A109LUH 27[Note 11]
Westland Super Lynx  United Kingdom Maritime helicopter Mk300 4[Note 12]
Transport Lockheed C-130 Hercules  United States Medium transport C-130BZ 9[Note 13]
Douglas C-47 Turbo Dakota  United States Maritime patrol / transport /
electronic warfare		 C-47TP 10[Note 14]
Cessna 208  United States Light utility / observation 208B 10[Note 15]
Beechcraft Super King Air  United States Light transport King Air 200/King Air 300 4
Pilatus PC-12  Switzerland Light transport PC-12 1[Note 16]
CASA C-212 Aviocar  Spain Light transport 212-200 / 212-300 4
CASA CN-235  Spain Light transport CN-235 1[Note 17]
737-based Boeing BBJ  United States Presidential transport 1
Dassault Falcon 900  France VIP transport 1
Dassault Falcon 50  France VIP transport 2
Cessna 550 Citation  United States VIP transport 2
Boeing 707  United States Air tanker  ?


[edit] Weapon Systems

For weapon system no longer in use, see List of obsolete weapon systems of the South African Air Force.

Weapon systems of the South African Air Force
Type Manufacturer Model Country of Origin Platform
Air to Air Missile Diehl BGT Defence IRIS-T[27]  Germany Gripen C, Gripen D
Air to Surface Missile Denel Dynamics Mokopa  South Africa Rooivalk
Reconnaissance / Targeting Pod Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Litening III targeting pod[27]  Israel Gripen C, Gripen D
Thales Vicon 18-601E[27]  France Hawk Mk 120
Rocket Launcher Type 159 Launcher[27]  South Africa Rooivalk
Rocket Forges de Zeebrugge FZ90 70mm FFAR[27]  Belgium Rooivalk
Guided Bomb Lockheed Martin GBU-12 Paveway II[27]  United States Gripen C, Gripen D
Un-guided Bomb Reunert Technology Systems[28] 120kg Fragmentation Bomb[27]  South Africa Gripen C, Gripen D, Hawk Mk 120
Reunert Technology Systems[28] 120kg Low-Drag Bomb[27]  South Africa Gripen C, Gripen D, Hawk Mk 120
Reunert Technology Systems[28] 145kg Bomb[27]  South Africa Gripen C, Gripen D, Hawk Mk 120
Reunert Technology Systems[28] 460kg Bomb[27]  South Africa Gripen C, Gripen D, Hawk Mk 120
Reunert Technology Systems[28] 12.5kg Practice Bomb[27]  South Africa Hawk Mk 120
Reunert Technology Systems[28] 4.5kg Practice Bomb[27]  South Africa Hawk Mk 120
Guns GIAT[29] F2 20mm Cannon[27]  France Rooivalk
Mauser-Werke Oberndorf[30] BK 27 27mm Cannon[27]  Germany Gripen C
Royal Small Arms Factory Aden 30mm cannon[27]  United Kingdom Hawk Mk 120
FN Herstal 7,62mm LMG[27]  Belgium Oryx
FN Herstal M3M 0.5 inch Machine Gun[27]  Belgium Super Lynx 300

[edit] Air Force installations

Source: South African Air Force[31]

[edit] Reserves

The Air Force Conventional Reserves are a pool of reserve posts created to serve the SAAF and augment regular units as and when needed. All trades in the SAAF are represented in the reserves, e.g. pilots, security squadron personnel etc. The Air Force Territorial Reserves currently consists of nine squadrons of privately owned aircraft operated by reserve pilots on behalf of the SAAF. These squadrons fulfill a very valuable role in light transport and observation, especially due to low direct operating costs.


[edit] Prominent establishments and units

[edit] South African Air Force Memorial

Main article: South African Air Force Memorial

The South African Air Force Memorial is a memorial to South African Air Force members who have died whilst in service of the South African Air Corps and the South African Air Force from 1915 to the present. The memorial is located at Swartkop outside Pretoria.

[edit] South African Air Force Museum

Main article: South African Air Force Museum

The South African Air Force Museum houses, exhibits and restores material related to the history of the South African Air Force. It is spread across three locations; AFB Swartkop outside Pretoria, AFB Ysterplaat in Cape Town and at the Port Elizabeth airport. Swartkop is the largest of the three museum locations, occupying at least five hangars and contains a number of Atlas Cheetahs as well as a Cheetah C flight simulator.

[edit] Silver Falcons

Main article: Silver Falcons

The Silver Falcons are the aerobatic display team of the South African Air Force and are based at Air Force Base Langebaanweg near Cape Town. The Silver Falcons fly the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II Astra, the basic trainer of the SA Air Force in a 5-ship routine. The main purpose is to enhance the image of the South African Air Force, encourage recruitment and instill national pride through public display.

Alt Text
Air Force Memorial 
Alt Text
Airspeed Oxford restoration project in the SAAF Museum 
Alt Text
Silver Falcons flying the Pilatus PC-7 

[edit] References

Footnotes
  1. ^ Gerard Wallace, Gordon Creed, Edwin Emmett, Basil Turner and Kennith van der Spey.[2]
  2. ^ The planned acquisition of Airbus A400Ms was cancelled in November 2009.
  3. ^ Ab initio training is outsourced to a civilian school, Babcock Central Flying Academy of Grand Central Airport using Cessna 172s.[23]
  4. ^ As well as others on temporary detachment from squadrons and manufacturers.
  5. ^ 9 Gripen D twin seat and 17 Gripen single seat aircraft are being delivered between 2008 and 2012, the Gripens replaced the Atlas Cheetahs which were taken out of active service in early April 2008.
  6. ^ With the exception of South Africa's initial Hawk (SA 250) flight test and development aircraft, which was built in the United Kingdom, all of its other Hawks were assembled at Denel's aircraft factory at Johannesburg International Airport in Kempton Park near Johannesburg.
  7. ^ October 15, 2009 The South African Air Force (SAAF) has contracted Pilatus to integrate an avionics upgrade on 35 of their Pilatus Astra PC-7 MkII fleet.
  8. ^ Denel Aviation has upgraded the on-board communication and navigation systems of 40 of the SAAF's Oryx helicopters under Project Drummer, launched in 2008.
  9. ^ 1 lost to accident.[25]
  10. ^ Original aircraft were inherited from the Apartheid-era "homelands", the Ciskei having acquired 3 in 1983, Venda 2 in 1985, Transkei 2 in 1986 and Bophuthatswana 2 in 1987, making a total of 10 with an extra delivered from Brazil. Two of the aircraft have already been mothballed at AFB Bloemspruit. 4 remain in service with 15 SQ. Attrition: 02/11/99 Bk117 384 Rolled over after emergency landing. March 2003 BK117 383 Involved in an accident, later declared Cat 5 and cannibalised. 20/08/03 BK117 389 Written-off during Exercise Blue Angel.
  11. ^ 3 lost to accidents.
  12. ^ Operated from South African Navy Valour class frigates.
  13. ^ Upgraded with new avionics and glass cockpits under Project Ebb. Completed March 2008.
  14. ^ Under Project Felstone, the first C-47TP "TurboDak" serial number 6835, was unveiled at Swartkops Air Force Base on 26 August '91. This aircraft took four years to complete. The Project was completed by 1997 with two production lines - one at AFB Swartkop and the other at AFB Ysterplaat. However, the fleet has been constantly refined and updated over the years. The latest version being a dedicated EW platform. 5 maritime patrol, 3 transport, 2 electronic warfare.
  15. ^ Fitted with Denel infrared observation system under Project Koiler in 2008. One lost in accident.[26]
  16. ^ Mostly VIP transport.
  17. ^ The SAAF inherited its CN235 in 1994 from the Bophuthatswana Defence Force Air Wing, who acquired theirs in 1991.
Citations
  1. ^ a b Becker, Dave (1991). On Wings of Eagles: South Africa's Military Aviation History. Durban: Walker-Ramus. pp. 7. ISBN 0-947478-47-7. 
  2. ^ a b c Becker (1991), pp. 9
  3. ^ Tidy, Major D.P.. They Mounted up as Eagles (A brief tribute to the South African Air Force). 5. The South African Military History Society. http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol056dt.html. 
  4. ^ a b Mahncke, J.E.. "Military History Journal Vol 12 No 3 - June 2002". The South African Aviation Corps (SAAC). South African Military History Society. http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol123jm.html. Retrieved February 25, 2012. 
  5. ^ a b L'Ange, Gerald (1991). Urgent Imperial Service: South African Forces in German South West Africa: 1914-1919. Rivonai: Ashanti. pp. 269. ISBN 1874800227. 
  6. ^ Becker (1991), pp. 13
  7. ^ L'Ange (1991), pp. 273
  8. ^ Becker (1991), pp. 15
  9. ^ Brown, James Ambrose (1991). They Fought for King and Kaiser: South Africans in German East Africa: 1916. Rivonia: Ashanti. pp. 63-64. ISBN 1874800324. 
  10. ^ a b c Becker (1991), pp. 17
  11. ^ "Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation". No 26 Squadron History. http://www.rafweb.org/Sqn026-30.htm. Retrieved February 25, 2012. 
  12. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/by_score.php
  13. ^ http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/safrica/index.php?pageNum_names=3&totalRows_names=46
  14. ^ South African Air Force, History, accessed October 2011
  15. ^ Martin, H.J. (Lt-Gen); Orpen, N.D. (1979). South Africa at War: Military and Industrial Organisation and Operations in connection with the conduct of War: 1939-1945 (South African Forces World War II: Volume VII). Cape Town: Purnell. p. 275. ISBN 0868430250.
  16. ^ Secret Document 161, Location of units in the Royal Air Force, 34th issue, July 1943, Royal Air Force Museum accession number PR02859.
  17. ^ "5 - National Security" (pdf). South Africa: a country study. Federal Research Division, Library of Congress. 1997. ISBN 0844407968. http://www.marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/South%20Africa%20Study_4.pdf. 
  18. ^ a b "South Africa in the Korean War". Department of Defense. http://www.korean-war.com/soafrica.html. 
  19. ^ Lord, Dick (2000). Vlamgat: The Story of the Mirage F1 in the South African Air Force. Covos-Day. ISBN 0620241160.
  20. ^ Hilton Hamann (2001). Days of the Generals. South Africa: Zebra. pp. p99. ISBN 1868723402. http://books.google.com/?id=mYgWcHq8lE8C. Retrieved 2008-05-12. 
  21. ^ "National Budget - Vote 19 - Defence" (PDF). South African National Treasury. http://www.treasury.gov.za/documents/national%20budget/2008/ene/19%20defence.pdf. Retrieved 2008-08-04. 
  22. ^ http://www.af.mil.za/uniform/rank_ins.html
  23. ^ http://www.saairforce.co.za/news-and-events/849/acquisition-of-new-ab-initio-trainer-cancelled
  24. ^ DefenceWeb - Gripens arrive at last.
  25. ^ http://www.saairforce.co.za/news-and-events/731/saaf-rooivalk-fleet-nearing-operational-status
  26. ^ DefenceWb - SAAF C208 crash-lands
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "The South African Air Force". The Airforce: Current Weapons. saairforce.co.za. http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/weapons/current. Retrieved February 24, 2012. 
  28. ^ a b c d e f "General purpose and fragmentation bombs (South Africa), Bombs - Unguided". Jane's Air-Launched Weapons. Janes Publishers. http://articles.janes.com/articles/Janes-Air-Launched-Weapons/General-purpose-and-fragmentation-bombs-South-Africa.html. Retrieved February 24, 2012. 
  29. ^ "South African Air Force (Unofficial)". F2 20mm Cannon. http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/weapons/40/f2-20mm-cannon. Retrieved February 24, 2012. 
  30. ^ "South African Air Force (Unofficial)". Mauser BK 27 27mm Cannon. http://http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/weapons/32/mauser-bk-27-27mm-cannon. Retrieved February 24, 2012. 
  31. ^ "Air Force Bases and Unit". South African Air Force. http://www.af.mil.za/bases/bases.html. Retrieved 2008-08-04. 

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