The South African Air Force (SAAF) is the air warfare branch of South African National Defence Force, with its headquarters in Pretoria. The South African Air Force was established on 1 February 1920. The Air Force saw service in World War II and the Korean War. From 1966, the SAAF was involved in providing infantry support in the low-intensity Border War in Angola, South-West Africa and Rhodesia. As the war progressed, the intensity of air operations increased, until in the late 1980s when the SAAF were compelled to fly fighter missions against Angolan aircraft in order to maintain tactical air superiority. On conclusion of the Border War in 1990, aircraft numbers were severely reduced due to economic pressures as well as the cessation of hostilities with neighbouring states.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh William Lumsden Saunders, was a South African aviator who rose through the ranks to become a senior Royal Air Force commander.
Robert Harry Doherty Rogers was a Chief of the South African Air Force. He joined the South African Air Force (SAAF) in 1940, and served in the Second World War and the Korean War. He subsequently rose through the ranks to become Chief of the SAAF. After his military career he entered politics and served as a Member of Parliament.
William "Cherry" Vale, was a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War. He was credited with 30 enemy aircraft shot down, shared in the destruction of three others, and claimed 6 damaged and another two shared damaged. His 20 kills achieved while flying the Hawker Hurricane and his 10 with the Gloster Gladiator made him the second highest scoring Hurricane and biplane pilot in the RAF, in both cases after Marmaduke Pattle.
Raymond Hiley Harries, was a Royal Air Force fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War. Harries scored 15 victories against enemy aircraft, as well as three shared kills, two probable kills and five damaged during the war. Harries is also credited with the destruction of a V-1 flying bomb.
Air Commodore James Rankin, was a Royal Air Force officer, fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War.
No. 87 Squadron RAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force during the First World War and Second World War.
Major General James Thom Durrant was a highly successful South African pilot during World War II who eventually became the Director-General of the South African Air Force. In addition to commanding SAAF squadrons and wings, he also commanded RAF bomber groups. At the age of 32, he was the youngest Major-General in the Allied forces. He resigned from the SAAF as a result of the de-anglicisation policy instituted by Frans Erasmus of the National Party after they took power after the 1948 general election.
7 Squadron was a unit of the South African Air Force which served in the Second World War as well as in South Africa between 1951 and 1992. During the war, the squadron was used as a fighter squadron deployed to the Western Desert as well as in the Aegean, Italy and Ceylon. The squadron was inactive from the end of the war until 1951 when it re-activated as a citizen force training squadron, a role it retained during two periods of active service until 1992, when it was disbanded for the last time.
The History of the South African Air Force spans the First World War, Rand Rebellion of 1922, the Second World War, the Korean War, the South African Border War, and varied peacekeeping operations since 1994. Its battle honours include German South West Africa 1914–15, German East Africa 1915–1918, East Africa: 1939–1941, Middle East: 1941–43, Madagascar 1942, Italy 1943–1945, the Balkans 1943–1945, and Korea 1950–1953.
Wing Commander Archibald Douglas McNeill Boyd, was a Royal Air Force officer and flying ace of the Second World War, and a businessman.
Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Stephen Osler, was a South African flying ace of the Second World War, credited with 12 aerial victories.
Peter Metelerkamp was a South African flying ace of World War II, credited with 5 'kills'.
Servaas van Breda Theron was a South African World War II fighter ace, credited with 10 'kills'.
Laurence 'Laurie' Wilmot (1914-1942) was a South African flying ace of World War II, credited with 4 'kills'.
Gerald John Le Mesurier (1914-1943) was a South African flying ace of World War II, credited with 3 'kills'.
Douglas William Golding is a South African flying ace of World War II, credited with 3 'kills'.
Eric Cowley Saville (1922-1943) was a South African flying ace of World War II, credited with 8 'kills'.
Douglas Haig Loftus (1917-1991) was a South African flying ace of World War II, credited with 4 'kills' and 1 shared.
Dennis Vernon Dold Lacey (1919-1942) was a South African flying ace of World War II, credited with 5 'kills' and 2 probables.
