41 Squadron SAAF
Encyclopedia
41 Squadron is a light transport squadron
of the South African Air Force
. It was formed in 1940 and has served since then, It is currently based at AFB Waterkloof
.
on 16 October 1940 as an army co-operation squadron equipped with the Hawker Hartbees
aircraft, serving in East Africa at the start of World War 2. On 1 September 1941 the squadron received a number of Curtiss Mohawks and these were grouped into "41 Squadron Fighter Detachment" - this detachment was later transferred to 3 Squadron
. The squadron remained behind in Abyssinia in 1942 when the rest of the South African forces moved into the Western Desert, with some Hurricanes being taken on strength in mid-1942.
By 1943 the squadron had been fully converted to Hurricane Mk I's and in April-May 1943 the squadron moved from Kenya to Egypt, where it re-equipped with Hurricane Mk IIB's
. The squadron was used in a defensive role and was responsible for the air defence for central and eastern Egypt. The only offensive operation was a single fighter sweep over Crete on 23 July 1943.
In February 1944 the squadron received Spitfire Mk.IX's
to supplement the Hurricanes and to permit high-altitude interceptions. All of the Hurricanes were replaced with Spitfire Mk VC's in April 1944. By middle April, the squadron was made responsible for the air protection of Palestine and later moved to Palestine in August 1944. It's wartime role ended on 30 November 1944 when it was disbanded.
and later Cessna 185's
from Grand Central Aerodrome. It was transferred back form army control to the SAAF in May 1973 when it was moved to AFB Swartkop
. In February 1974 the squadron received Aermacchi AM.3 Bosbok's and in July 1976 the Aermacchi AL-60 Kudu
(known as the Atlas C4M Kudu in South Africa) aircraft were added to the inventory. In 1988 the squadron was re-equipped with Cessna 208 Caravan's. In 1996 Beechcraft King Air's
were acquired from 21 and 35 Squadrons and a Pilatus PC-12
was added in July 1997.
Currently, the squadron is based at AFB Waterkloof
and is responsible for routine air transport, air logistical support, landward airborne operations, routine air support and battlefield air support.
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...
. It was formed in 1940 and has served since then, It is currently based at AFB Waterkloof
AFB Waterkloof
Air 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....
.
World War II
41 Squadron was formed at AFS WaterkloofAFB Waterkloof
Air 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....
on 16 October 1940 as an army co-operation squadron equipped with the Hawker Hartbees
Hawker Hart
The Hawker Hart was a British two-seater biplane light bomber of the Royal Air Force , which had a prominent role during the RAF's inter-war period. The Hart was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and built by Hawker Aircraft...
aircraft, serving in East Africa at the start of World War 2. On 1 September 1941 the squadron received a number of Curtiss Mohawks and these were grouped into "41 Squadron Fighter Detachment" - this detachment was later transferred to 3 Squadron
3 Squadron SAAF
3 Squadron SAAF was an air force 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...
. The squadron remained behind in Abyssinia in 1942 when the rest of the South African forces moved into the Western Desert, with some Hurricanes being taken on strength in mid-1942.
By 1943 the squadron had been fully converted to Hurricane Mk I's and in April-May 1943 the squadron moved from Kenya to Egypt, where it re-equipped with Hurricane Mk IIB's
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
. The squadron was used in a defensive role and was responsible for the air defence for central and eastern Egypt. The only offensive operation was a single fighter sweep over Crete on 23 July 1943.
In February 1944 the squadron received Spitfire Mk.IX's
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
to supplement the Hurricanes and to permit high-altitude interceptions. All of the Hurricanes were replaced with Spitfire Mk VC's in April 1944. By middle April, the squadron was made responsible for the air protection of Palestine and later moved to Palestine in August 1944. It's wartime role ended on 30 November 1944 when it was disbanded.
Later history
The squadron was reformed in January 1963 as the first Citizen Force part-time Army co-operation unit, flying AustersAuster
Auster Aircraft Limited was a British aircraft manufacturer from 1938 to 1961.-History:The company began in 1938 at the Britannia Works, Thurmaston near Leicester, England, as Taylorcraft Aeroplanes Limited, making light observation aircraft designed by the Taylorcraft Aircraft Corporation of...
and later Cessna 185's
Cessna 185
-Specification for differing configurations:-References:* Jan Churchill, Hit My Smoke: Forward Air Controllers in Southeast Asia, Sunflower University Press, Manhattan KS, ISBN 0-89745-215-1...
from Grand Central Aerodrome. It was transferred back form army control to the SAAF in May 1973 when it was moved to AFB Swartkop
AFB Swartkop
AFB Swartkop is an air force base in South Africa. It is managed as part of AFB Waterkloof and houses one of the three branches of the South African Air Force Museum...
. In February 1974 the squadron received Aermacchi AM.3 Bosbok's and in July 1976 the Aermacchi AL-60 Kudu
Aermacchi AL-60
-External links:* * *...
(known as the Atlas C4M Kudu in South Africa) aircraft were added to the inventory. In 1988 the squadron was re-equipped with Cessna 208 Caravan's. In 1996 Beechcraft King Air's
Beechcraft King Air
The Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...
were acquired from 21 and 35 Squadrons and a Pilatus PC-12
Pilatus PC-12
The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The main market for the aircraft is corporate transport and regional airliner operators.-Design and development:...
was added in July 1997.
Currently, the squadron is based at AFB Waterkloof
AFB Waterkloof
Air 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....
and is responsible for routine air transport, air logistical support, landward airborne operations, routine air support and battlefield air support.