24 Squadron SAAF
Encyclopedia
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 on 5 March 1941 by renumbering 14 Squadron SAAF in Egypt.
bombers were moved from Kenya to Egypt, renumbered as No.24 squadron and operated alongside No. 39 Squadron RAF
as daytime tactical bomber units carrying out bombing sorties on Mediterranean targets. 24 squadron was later in the year re-equipped with Boston
s.
In Dec, 1943 the squadron was relocated to Algeria and re-equipped with the B-26 Marauder
s and in 1944 flew to a new base at Pescara, Italy, 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.
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
of the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force 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...
. Its last role was as an attack aircraft squadron. The squadron was first formed on 5 March 1941 by renumbering 14 Squadron SAAF in Egypt.
- Aircraft flown: A-22 MarylandA-22 Maryland|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bishop, Chris. The Encyclopedia Of 20th Century Air Warfare. London: Amber Books Ltd, 2004. ISBN 1-90468-726-1....
, BostonDouglas DB-7The Douglas A-20/DB-7 Havoc was a family of American attack, light bomber and night fighter aircraft of World War II, that served with several Allied air forces, principally those of the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and United States. The DB-7 was also used by the air forces of Australia, South...
, Marauder Mk IIB-26 MarauderThe Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
, Marauder Mk III, B-34 VenturaLockheed VenturaThe Lockheed Ventura was a bomber and patrol aircraft of World War II, used by United States and British Commonwealth forces in several guises...
. Last aircraft flown was the Blackburn BuccaneerBlackburn BuccaneerThe Blackburn Buccaneer was a British low-level subsonic strike aircraft with nuclear weapon delivery capability serving with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force between 1962 and 1994, including service in the 1991 Gulf War...
. - Last base: AFB WaterkloofAFB WaterkloofAir Force Base Waterkloof is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is situated on the outskirts of Pretoria, and is the SAAF's busiest airbase.The base's name, Waterkloof, is Afrikaans, it means Water Ravine in English....
, PretoriaPretoriaPretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
World War II
In 1941 No.14 squadron SAAF and its MarylandA-22 Maryland
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bishop, Chris. The Encyclopedia Of 20th Century Air Warfare. London: Amber Books Ltd, 2004. ISBN 1-90468-726-1....
bombers were moved from Kenya to Egypt, renumbered as No.24 squadron and operated alongside No. 39 Squadron RAF
No. 39 Squadron RAF
No. 39 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the MQ-9 Reaper since 2007, operating from Creech AFB, Nevada, USA.-World War I:39 Squadron was founded at Hounslow Heath Aerodrome in April 1916 with B.E.2s and Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.12s in an attempt to defend against German Zeppelin raids on...
as daytime tactical bomber units carrying out bombing sorties on Mediterranean targets. 24 squadron was later in the year re-equipped with Boston
Douglas DB-7
The Douglas A-20/DB-7 Havoc was a family of American attack, light bomber and night fighter aircraft of World War II, that served with several Allied air forces, principally those of the Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and United States. The DB-7 was also used by the air forces of Australia, South...
s.
In Dec, 1943 the squadron was relocated to Algeria and re-equipped with the B-26 Marauder
B-26 Marauder
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
s and in 1944 flew to a new base at Pescara, Italy, 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
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
in the 1970s and 1980s, and attacked SWAPO guerrilla camps with rockets and bombs.
The squadron was disbanded in March 1991.
Further reading
- 'The South African Bush War,' Warplane No. 5 (Orbis partwork, c.1985)