The following is a list of squadrons of the South African Air Force. The list includes both current and past squadrons of the South African Air Force.
The following is a list of squadrons of the South African Air Force. The list includes both current and past squadrons of the South African Air Force.
| Squadron | Role | Base | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Squadron | Air Superiority | Air Force Base Makhado | Gripen C, Gripen D |
| 15 Squadron | Air Force Base Durban | A109 LUH, BK 117, Oryx | |
| 19 Squadron | Air Force Base Hoedspruit | A109 LUH, Oryx | |
| 87 Helicopter Flying School | Training | Air Force Base Bloemspruit | A109 LUH, BK 117, Oryx |
| 17 Squadron | Rotary | AFB Swartkop | A109 LUH, Oryx |
| 21 Squadron | VIP Transport | Air Force Base Waterkloof | 550/1 Citation II, Boeing 737-7ED (BBJ), Falcon 50, Falcon 900B |
| 22 Squadron | Rotary | Air Force Base Ysterplaat | Oryx, Super Lynx 300 |
| 28 Squadron | Medium transport | Air Force Base Waterkloof | C-130B/BZ Hercules |
| 35 Squadron | Maritime | Air Force Base Ysterplaat | C47-TP Turbo Dakota |
| 41 Squadron | Light transport | Air Force Base Waterkloof | 208 Caravan, 300 Super King Air, B200C Super King Air, PC-12 |
| 44 Squadron | Light transport | Air Force Base Waterkloof | C 212 Aviocar, CN 235 |
| 60 Squadron | Heavy transport | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
| 80 Air Navigation School | Training | Air Force Base Ysterplaat | |
| 85 Combat Flying School | Training | Air Force Base Makhado | Hawk Mk 120 |
| SA Air Force College | Training | Other | |
| Central Flying School | Training | Air Force Base Langebaanweg | PC-7 Mk II (Astra) |
| Test Flight and Development Centre | Logistic support services | Air Force Base Overberg | Cheetah D, Hawk Mk 120, PC-7 Mk II (Astra) |
| Joint Air Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre | Logistic support services | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
| 10 Squadron | Reconnaissance/Targeting | N/A | Seeker 400 |
| 101 Squadron | Light transport | Air Force Base Hoedspruit | |
| 102 Squadron | Light transport | Air Force Base Makhado | |
| 104 Squadron | Light transport | AFB Swartkop | |
| 105 Squadron | Light transport | Air Force Base Durban | |
| 106 Squadron | Light transport | Air Force Base Bloemspruit | |
| 107 Squadron | Light transport | Air Force Base Bloemspruit | |
| 108 Squadron | Light transport | Air Force Station Port Elizabeth | |
| 110 Squadron | Light transport | Air Force Base Ysterplaat | |
| 111 Squadron | Light transport | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
| SAAF Museum Historic Flight | Training | AFB Swartkop | Alouette II (Museum), C-47 Dakota (Museum), CL.13B Sabre Mk 6 (Museum), D.H.87B Hornet Moth (Museum), DHC-1 Chipmunk T MK 10, Explorer, Fi-156c-7 Storch, Harvards (Museum), Mirage IIIBZ (Museum), Mirage IIICZ (Museum), P-51D Mustang (Museum), P166S Albatross (Museum), Prentice T Mk 1, Provost T Mk 52 (Museum), S-55C (Museum), SA-330L Puma (Museum), Shackleton MR.3 (Museum), Spitfire Mk IXe (Museum) |
| 1 Air Servicing Unit | Logistic support services | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
| 2 Air Servicing Unit | Logistic support services | Air Force Base Langebaanweg | |
| 3 Air Servicing Unit | Logistic support services | Air Force Base Makhado | |
| 5 Air Servicing Unit | Logistic support services | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
| 10 Air Depot | Logistic support services | Air Force Station Thaba Tshwane | |
| 18 Deployment Support Unit | Logistic support services | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
| 92 Tactical Airfield Unit | Logistic support services | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
| 140 Squadron | Air defence | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
| 142 Squadron | Air defence | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
| 500 Squadron | Security services | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
| 501 Squadron | Security services | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
| 502 Squadron | Security services | TEK Base | |
| 503 Squadron | Security services | Valhalla | |
| 504 Squadron | Security services | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
| 505 Squadron | Security services | Air Force Base Ysterplaat | |
| 506 Squadron | Security services | Air Force Base Bloemspruit | |
| 508 Squadron | Security services | Air Force Base Durban | |
| 514 Squadron | Security services | Air Force Base Hoedspruit | |
| 515 Squadron | Security services | Air Force Base Makhado | |
| 525 Squadron | Security services | Air Force Base Overberg | |
| 526 Squadron | Security services | Air Force Base Langebaanweg | |
| Air Force Gymnasium | Training | Air Force Base Hoedspruit | |
| 68 Air School | Training | TEK Base | |
| Bushveld Airspace Control Sector | Air defence | Other | |
| Lowveld Airspace Control Sector | Air defence | Air Force Base Hoedspruit | |
| Mobile Communications Unit | Logistic support services | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing | |
| Rapid Deployment Air Operations Team 43 | Logistic support services | Other | |
| Rapid Deployment Air Operations Team 46 | Logistic support services | Other | |
| Air Publications Service Centre | Logistic support services | Air Force Station Thaba Tshwane | |
| SAAF Band | Logistic support services | Valhalla | |
| Command and Control School | Training | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
| School of Cookery | Training | Valhalla | |
| Fire Training School | Training | Valhalla | |
| Air Force Command and Control School | Training | Air Force Base Hoedspruit | |
| Airspace Control Unit | Air defence | AFB Swartkop | |
| Central Photographic Institute | Logistic support services | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
| Combined Auction Centre | Logistic support services | Other | |
| Ellisras Reporting Post | Air defence | Other | |
| SAAF Police | Security services | Other | |
| SAAF Telecommunications Centre | Logistic support services | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
| Electronic Warfare Centre | Logistic support services | Air Force Base Waterkloof | |
| 16 Squadron | Rotary attack | Air Force Base Bloemspruit | Rooivalk |
| 6 Air Servicing Unit | Logistic support services | Air Force Base Bloemspruit | |
| 15 Squadron - 'C' Flight | Air Force Station Port Elizabeth | BK 117 | |
| 516 Squadron | Security services | Other |
| Squadron: | Based at: |
|---|---|
| 1 Squadron | N/A |
| 3 Squadron | N/A |
| 4 Squadron | N/A |
| 5 Squadron | N/A |
| 6 Squadron | N/A |
| 7 Squadron | N/A |
| 8 Squadron | N/A |
| 11 Squadron | N/A |
| 12 Squadron | N/A |
| 24 Squadron | N/A |
| 25 Squadron | N/A |
| 27 Squadron | N/A |
| 30 Squadron | N/A |
| 31 Squadron | N/A |
| 40 Squadron | N/A |
| 42 Squadron | N/A |
| 86 Multi-Engine Flying School | N/A |
| 88 Maritime Operational Training School | N/A |
| 89 Combat Flying School | N/A |
| 4 Air Servicing Unit | Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing |
| 7 Air Servicing Unit | Air Force Base Hoedspruit |
| 120 Squadron | N/A |
| 112 Commando Squadron / 1 SWA Squadron | N/A |
| 114 Commando Squadron | N/A |
| 109 Squadron | N/A |
| 103 Squadron | N/A |
| 26 Squadron | N/A |
| 84 Light Aircraft Flying School | N/A |
The Desert Air Force (DAF), also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, the Western Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force (1TAF), was an Allied tactical air force created from No. 204 Group RAF under RAF Middle East Command in North Africa in 1941 to provide close air support to the British Eighth Army against Axis forces. Throughout the Second World War, the DAF was made up of squadrons from the Royal Air Force (RAF), the South African Air Force (SAAF), the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and other Allied air forces.
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.
The Hawker Hind was a British light bomber of the inter-war years produced by Hawker Aircraft for the Royal Air Force. It was developed from the Hawker Hart day bomber introduced in 1931.
2 Squadron is a squadron in the South African Air Force which was formed in 1940. The squadron has a long history, having been involved in every single combat action in which the SAAF has taken part. During the Second World War it made a name for itself in the battles for East Africa, before distinguishing itself in North Africa as part of the Desert Air Force, and later in Italy.
Air Force Base Makhado, formerly Air Force Base Louis Trichardt, is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is the SAAF's northernmost base, situated at Louis Trichardt near the border with Zimbabwe, as well as being its most modern, and is known unofficially as Fighter Town, RSA.
1 Squadron SAAF was an air force squadron of the South African Air Force and was formed at Air Force Station Swartkop in February 1920, equipped with De Havilland DH.9's part of the Imperial Gift donation to South Africa by Britain. On 31 August 1939 the squadron was re-designated as 1 Bomber/Fighter Squadron and this was then changed to 11 (Bomber) Squadron in December 1939. The squadron was resurrected in February 1940 by the renumbering of 6 Squadron, equipped with four Hurricane Mk 1's and six Furies.
Air Force Base Ysterplaat is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is located in Cape Town suburb Ysterplaat, on the southwestern coast of South Africa. The name Ysterplaat is Afrikaans from the Dutch "Ijzerplaats" meaning "Iron Place" or "Place of Iron" in English.
Royal Air Force Aldermaston or more simply RAF Aldermaston is a former Royal Air Force station located 8 miles (13 km) east of Newbury, Berkshire and 9.8 miles (15.8 km) southwest of Reading, Berkshire, England.
The Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) was an air force based in Salisbury which represented several entities under various names between 1935 and 1980: originally serving the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia, it was the air arm of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland between 1953 and 31 December 1963; of Southern Rhodesia once again from 1 January 1964; and of the unrecognised nation of Rhodesia following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Britain on 11 November 1965.
No. 265 Squadron RAF was an anti-submarine squadron of the Royal Air Force during two world wars. It was based at Gibraltar in World War One and Madagascar in World War Two.
No. 262 Squadron RAF was an anti-submarine patrol squadron of the Royal Air Force between 1942 and 1945.
Article XV squadrons were Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand air force squadrons formed from graduates of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (1939) during World War II.
Air Force Base Swartkop is South Africa's oldest air force base and houses the South African Air Force Museum. It is managed as part of AFB Waterkloof and houses one of the three branches of the South African Air Force Museum. The name of the air force base, Swartkop means Black hill in Afrikaans.
No. 657 Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force in North Africa, Italy and the Netherlands during the Second World War and afterwards in Germany. Numbers 651 to 663 Squadrons of the RAF were Air Observation Post units working closely with British Army units in artillery spotting and liaison. Their duties and squadron numbers were transferred to the Army with the formation of the Army Air Corps on 1 September 1957.
RAF Fayid (LG-211) is a former military airfield in Egypt, approximately 23 km (14 mi) south of Ismailia and 116 km (72 mi) northeast of Cairo. It was formerly a major Royal Air Force airfield built before World War II, and later used by the Egyptian Air Force.
Habit Awlad Muhammad Airport is an airport in the Jabal al Gharbi District of Libya, located approximately 266 kilometres (165 mi) south-southwest of Tripoli in the Libyan desert. Its primary use is the transportation of oilfield workers from production facilities in the area.
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.