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3 Squadron SAAF

Squadron of the South African Air Force

Squadron of the South African Air Force

FieldValue
unit_name3 Squadron
imageMirage F1CZ Formation.jpg
captionMirage F1CZs in formation
dates1940 to 30 September 1992
countrySouth Africa
allegianceSouth Africa
branch[[File:Air Force Ensign of South Africa.svg25px]] South African Air Force
roleFighter Sqn
garrisonAFB Waterkloof
ceremonial_chiefPik Botha
nicknameFighting Wasps
motto*Semper Pugnans* (Always Fighting)
equipmentMirage F1CZ
battlesSouth African Border War
commander3Cmdt W.J Hartogh
commander3_labelLast Officer Commanding
identification_symbol**CA** (1939–1945) (Squadron OC: Maj C.A. Golding flew with personal identification code **CAG** in 1944-1945)
identification_symbol_labelSquadron Identification Code
identification_symbol_2[[File:3 Squadron SAAF crest.jpg]]
identification_symbol_2_labelSquadron Crest

3 Squadron SAAF was a squadron of the South African Air Force. It was formed in January 1939 at Air Force Base Waterkloof and was equipped with Hawker Hartbees I and Hurricane Mk II aircraft. The squadron was moved to Port Elizabeth in September 1939 after which it was disbanded. It was again reformed at Waterkloof on 9 September 1940 equipped with Hurricane Mk 1s.

History

The squadron was involved in fighting in East Africa flying Hurricanes and Gladiator Mk IIs, In December 1942 the squadron was sent to the Middle East and flew fighter defence over the port of Aden with Hurricane Mk IIc and Spitfire V aircraft, coastal patrols were also flown from North Africa. In August 1944, 3 Squadron was sent to Italy top join No. 8 Wing SAAF and was re-equipped with Spitfire IXs. The squadron was disbanded following the end of the Second World War.

Three Squadron was again reformed at Baragwanath Airport on 6 September 1952 as a part-time citizen force unit flying Harvards, but disbanded once again in 1957. In August 1966 the squadron was reformed at AFB Waterkloof as a unit under the control of 2 Squadron, equipped with Mirage IIIEZs.

In February 1970 the unit received squadron colours and in the same year, was supplied with Mirage IIIDZ's and Mirage F1CZ's in April 1975 when its Mirage IIIEZ, DZ and D2Z aircraft were transferred to 85 Advanced Flying School. The squadron continued to operate the Mirage F1CZ from Waterkloof AFB with frequent deployments to South-West Africa during the Namibian War of Independence. Three Squadron was disbanded when the Mirage F1CZs were retired on 30 September 1992.

World War II deployment

  • January – December 1941: Fighter squadron, East Africa
  • 1942: South Africa
  • January 1943 – August 1944: Shipping patrols, North Africa
  • August 1944 – September 1945: Ground attack, Italy

Aircraft

Note: Aircraft type photographs may not necessarily represent aircraft of the same mark or actual aircraft belonging to the squadron. |File:Hart 62.jpg|Hawker Hartbees or Hartebeeste I 1939 |File:Gloster Gladiator.jpg|Gloster Gladiator Mk II 1939 |File:Goraszka 2010 Hawker Hurricane (2).jpg|Hawker Hurricane Mk I 1941 |File:TR 000978 kittyhawk.jpg|Curtis P-40 Kittyhawk 1941 |File:Hurricane.r4118.arp.jpg|Hawker Hurricane Mk IIC 1943–44 |File:Spitfire Mk.IX PT672 Evelyn a.jpg|Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX 1944–45 |File:Harvard 7698 a.jpg|North American T-6 Harvard 1952–1957 |File:Mirage IIICZ no. 805.jpg|Mirage III 1966–1975 |File:Mirage F1CZ.jpg|Mirage F1CZ 1975–1992

References

References

  1. "South African Air Force website". 3 Squadron.
  2. Martin, H.J. Lt-Gen. (1978). "Eagles Victorious: South African Forces World War II". Purnell.
  3. Flintham, Vic. (2003). "Combat Codes". Pen & Sword Aviation.
  4. H.J. Martin, Neil Orpen. (1977). "Eagles Victorious: The S.A.A.F. in Italy and the Mediterranean: 1943 - 1945". Purnell.
  5. "History of War". No. 3 Squadron (SAAF): Second World War.
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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