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24 Squadron SAAF

Field	Value
unit_name	24 Squadron
image	Buccaneer 418.jpg
image_size	300
caption	Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.Mk 50 no. 418 of 24 Sqn
dates	5 March 1941 – 6 November 1945
1 May 1965 – March 1991
country	South Africa
branch	South African Air Force
role	Bomber/Strike Squadron
garrison	AFB Waterkloof when disbanded.
motto	Per Noctem Per Diem Through Night, Through Day
identification_symbol	OZ 1942
identification_symbol_label	Squadron Identification Code
identification_symbol_2	[[File:24 Squadron SAAF Crest.png]]
identification_symbol_2_label	Squadron Crest

1 May 1965 – March 1991

24 Squadron SAAF is a disbanded squadron of the South African Air Force. Its last role was as an attack aircraft squadron. The squadron was first formed during World War II on 5 March 1941 by renumbering 14 Squadron SAAF in Egypt. It later carried out bombing operations in Kenya and North Africa, before taking part in the Italian campaign before disbanding in late 1945 at the conclusion of hostilities. The squadron was later re-raised and operated jet aircraft in an attack role during the Border War. It was finally disbanded in early 1991.

History

On 5 March 1941 24 Squadron SAAF was formed when No.14 Squadron SAAF and its Martin Maryland bombers were moved from Kenya to Egypt, and renumbered as No.24 Squadron. The squadron then operated alongside No. 39 Squadron RAF as a daytime tactical bomber unit carrying out bombing sorties against targets in the Mediterranean theatre. 24 Squadron was later in the year re-equipped with Douglas Bostons.

In December 1943, the squadron was relocated to Algeria and re-equipped with the Martin B-26 Marauders and in 1944 flew to a new base at Pescara, Italy, before later advancing to Jesi, Italy. At the end of the war the squadron used its Marauders as transport aircraft, before moving to Egypt in October 1945 and disbanding on 6 November 1945.

The Buccaneer entered SAAF service in 1965. SAAF Buccaneers saw active service during the Border War in South West Africa, notably at Cassinga in 1978. They flew over Angola and Namibia in the 1970s and 1980s, and attacked SWAPO guerrilla camps with rockets and bombs.

The squadron was disbanded in March 1991 at Air Force Base Waterkloof, Pretoria.

Aircraft

Note: Aircraft type photographs may not necessarily represent aircraft of the same mark or actual aircraft belonging to the squadron. |File:Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. CM1326.jpg|Martin Maryland Mark II 1941 |File:The South African Air Force in Libya, March 1943 TR838.jpg|Boston Mk.III of 24 Sqn 1941 |File:Martin Marauder ExCC.jpg|Marauder Mk II 1943 |File:SAAF-Lockheed PV1 Ventura-001.jpg|PV1 Ventura 1945 |File:Buccaneer 422.jpg|HS Buccaneer S.50 1965–1991

References

"South African Air Force (Unofficial)". 24 Squadron.
Flintham, Vic. (2003). "Combat Codes". Pen & Sword Aviation.
"No. 24 Squadron (SAAF): Second World War".
Best, Roger. "The Martin B26 Marauder in South African Service".
Goebel, Greg. (1 December 2009). "The Blackburn Buccaneer".

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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