Historic Overview
THE
SQUADRONS INCEPTION
On
May the 13th 1940, Maj N.G. Niblock-Stuart
with 19 pilots and 24 ground-crew left AFB
Waterkloof for Cairo. On June the 1st
1940 they began training on Gauntlets at Abu Seur.
Another group under the leadership of Lt S. van
Breda Theron received training on Hurricanes and
Furies before leaving for Kenya on the 22nd
May 1940. (It was in Kenya, where the Squadron
received 2 Cheetah cubs as mascots, that the
historic name “Flying Cheetahs” was conceived). A
last group left on the 26th May 1940 by
boat for Mombassa. These groups, a part of 1
Squadron, formed the foundation of 2 Squadron.
A
crest was designed by Cpl Jack Friedman on the 5th
September and on the 1st of October 2
Squadron was officially formed although they had
been operating independently of 1 Squadron for
months. As well as manning the base in Nanuiki,
Kenya, part of the Squadron under the command of
Capt Meaker manned a base at Archers Post flying
mainly Furies.
On
the completion of the East African Campaign on 20
April 1941 that part of the Squadron left East
Africa via Durban for the Middle East. During this
campaign 2 Squadron claimed 8 Italian aircraft
(confirmed) shot down while many others were not
confirmed and therefore not included. Only one 2
Squadron aircraft was shot down and only two pilots
were taken prisoner of war after both executed
emergency landings.
THE DESERT WAR
On the 2nd May 1941,
the rest of the Squadron left Durban on the same
boat from East Africa for the Middle East to the
base at Amriya with Hurricanes, and later with
Tomahawks. On the 4th December, ten 2
Squadron Tomahawks engaged more than 30 Stukas,
which cover of 20 Macchi 200’s and Fiat A50’s. 2
Squadron confirmed 6 enemy shot down and another 6
possibly shot down against a loss of only 2 pilots.
On the 10th December, Lt Enslin was shot
down and rescued and returned by Lt Lipawsky. During
December 1941 and January 1942, 17 enemy aircraft
were shot down, 5 possibly destroyed and 13 damaged
against the loss of only 2 Squadron pilots. During
the German attack on the Gazala-line, the Tomahawks
were replaced by Kittyhawks which led to greater
losses against the well known Messerschmitt and 3
damaged during July 1942.
THE COUNTER OFFENSIVE
The enemy’s attack at El Almien
was stopped and a counter attack launched on the 23rd
October 1942. During October and November 1942, 2
Squadron, flying fighter-bombers, claimed 26
aircraft destroyed, 6 possibly destroyed and 12
damaged.
With the termination of the North
African campaign on 13 May 1943, the SAAF No 7 wing,
comprising no: 2, 4 & 5 Squadrons, was considered
the best dive bomber world-wide.
SICILY AND ITALY
On the 12th August
1943 the Squadron was based at Palermo Sicily flying
Spitfire MK5 bombers. Effective attacks produced
the best results. (On the 6th April 1994
at Mawja-Luka in Yugoslavia 40 enemy aircraft were
destroyed and 6 damaged). During the war the
following medals were awarded to 2 Squadron members
: 8 DFC’s, 2 MID’s, 1 “Kings Medal for Bravery”, 1
BEM and 2 Summary DFC’s.
On completion of World War 2,
the Squadron was disbanded after returning to South
Africa.
2 Squadron was re-established at
AFB Waterkloof in June 1946, using Spitfire MK9’s.
In 1950 Vampire air-crafts were obtained and the
squadron was busy converting to the new jet aircraft
when the Korea war broke out. The jet was the start
of the era in the SAAF.
2
SQUADRON IN KOREA
On the 4th August
1950 the South African Government announced its
intentions to place a squadron of the SAAF, at the
disposal of the United Nations for service in the
Korea war. No 2 Squadron was nominated And the
contingent of volunteers left Pretoria on 25th
September 1950 under the command of Cmdt S. van
Breda Theron SM, DSO, DFC, Durban and sailed for
Korea.2 Squadron formed part of the 12th
Fighter Squadron USAF, under command of the 18th
Fighter Bomber Wing USAF. The squadron flew its
first mission on the 19th November 1950
in P51 Mustangs. The record of 2 Squadron in Korea
is a proud one and during its stay of 3 years it had
more than 800 men on record. The pilots were
attacked on several occasions by the vastly superior
Russian Mig 15’s, and lost only one aircraft, a P51
Mustang. The squadrons participation in the Korean
war consisted mainly of armed reconnaissance,
interdiction and close air support for ground
forces. The men of 2 squadron served with such
pride and bravery that they distinguished themselves
from all the other participating units.
In cognisance of its gallant
men, the Korean Citation, bestowed on 2 Squadron and
still worn on this day by all serving members, was
presented to the Squadron by the President of the
Republic of Korea on November 1st 1951,
and reads as follows :
"PRESIDENTIAL
UNIT CITATION
The
President of the Republic of Korea takes great
pleasure in citing for exceptional meritorious and
heroism.
NO 2 SQUADRON
SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE
for
the reward of
THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT
CITATION
This unit was dispatched form
South Africa in support of the United Nations Forces
in Korea. It was equipped with P51 air-crafts and
has functioned continually in support of operations
of the Eighth Army.
Through all gallantry and
devotion to duty of its personnel it has earned high
praise and its losses in pilots have been heavy.
It continued to meet cheerfully
all tasks allotted to it, and gives a higher
performance than is normally expected."
On the 31st of
December 1952, the Squadron received their first F86
Sabres and Maj J.S.R. Wells was the first SAAF pilot
to fly solo on 27 January 1953.
Upon leaving Korea in 1953, the
“Flying Cheetahs” left behind a reputation
comparable to the best of the United nations
Forces. A measure of the appreciation of their
efforts by the Americans, is found in a policy
directive issued by the Officer Commanding 18th
Fighter Bomber Wing, under which 2 Squadron served ;
stating the following :
“In memory of our gallant South African
comrades, it is hereby established, as a new policy,
that all Retreat Ceremonies held by this Wing, the
playing of our National Anthem shall be preceded by
playing the introductory bard of the South African
Anthem, “Die Stem van Suid Afrika”. All personnel
of this Wing, will render the same honours to this
anthem as our own”.
This policy is still in force to
this day and is practised by all personnel of the
American 18th Fighter Bomber Wing.
An equally fitting tribute to
the valuable service rendered by 2 Squadron is found
in the following extract from the United States
Presidential Unit Citation. This award, a unique
event in the history of the South African Air Force,
was presented to 2 Squadron in August 1956, and
reads as follows :
“The unit displayed
such gallantry, determination and esprit de corps in
accomplishing its missions under extremely hazardous
and difficult conditions as to set it apart and
above other
units
participating in the same campaign”.
1953
– 1956
The squadron was reformed at AFB
Swartkop in 1953
with 10
Vampire and Harvard air-craft.
1956
During
the period 1956 – 1958 2 Squadron, under the
leadership of the Officer Commanding Maj R.H.
Rogers, SSA, SM, DS, DFC, was transferred to AFB
Waterkloof and again converted to F86 Sabres. At
this stage 2 Squadron had 8 Sabres, 6 Vampires and 6
Harvards. Another 8 Sabres, received later, brought
the strength to 28 air-crafts.
April 1963 was another highlight
in the Squadrons history when the first Mirage Ш CZ
arrived from France by C130. The aircraft was
assembled by a French team at 2 Squadron and they
test flew the aircraft. By the end of May 1963 the
first Mirage was demonstrated to the public at
Waterkloof, when it and a C130 gave a spectacular
show. The Mirage flown by the OC of 2 Squadron Maj
Melville, SM, went supersonic low-level and he
followed with an aerobatics display.
Mirages continued to arrive at
intervals, and in November 1964 the first dual
Mirage Ш BZ arrived at the squadron. Prior to this
arrival, pilots received training in the simulator
only.
During July 1965, the first
Mirage Ш EZ arrived and relieved a load of some
flying duties. Its equipment namely the Cyrano П
radar for interceptions and ground mapping, the
Doppler navigation system and the Tacan, fulfilled
every squadron pilot’s needs. Thereafter, the DZ’s
the dual for the EZ arrived. During June 1974 the
Mirage Ш R2Z arrived at the squadron. This aircraft
with its 9K50 engine giving 15 500 lbs thrust, was
able to obtain Mach 2 at 30 000 feet, within seven
minutes of releasing brakes. The Mirage proved to be
a very reliable aircraft in all aspects, and 2
Squadron can to date boast an excellent safety
record. In 1952 a Cheetah cub was donated to the
squadron by a farmer from Northern Transvaal. It
added to the lively spirit of the squadron and later
became very effective in interception missions,
against dogs, armourer’s, fowls and ladies. After
its first claims, it was given to the Pretoria zoo,
and eventually died on a game farm in October 1972.
During October 1974, the first Mirages were
delivered to 85 Combat Flying School (then known as
85 ADFS). These included the new Mirage Ш D2Z dual
aircraft.
The squadron officially received
its colours during a parade at AFB Waterkloof on the
3rd May 1966. During December 1978, 2
Squadron officially took leave of AFB Waterkloof and
moved to AFB Hoedspruit, where they had been
stationed until the phasing out of the Mirage Ш in
October 1990.
On the 16th of March
1985, the squadron received the freedom of the city
of Johannesburg.
REUNIONS
During July 1973, a Korean
reunion was held at the SAAF College Club.
On the 24th June 1978,
a squadron reunion was held which ran concurrently
with the inauguration of our honorary Colonel W.
Isaacs.
On the 27th July, the
same year, a Rorke’s Inn Reunion was held. This
reunion was in fact the 25th Anniversary
of the Korean campaigners.
The 10th July 1981,
saw the 40 Year Anniversary of 2 Squadron, and a
reunion was held for all past and present members at
AFB Hoedspruit.
The 29 September 2000, saw the 60th
Anniversary of 2 Squadron, and a jolly reunion was
held for all to enjoy at AFB Louis Trichardt.
2
SQUADRON’S HISTORY FROM APRIL 1990 : RE-ACTIVATED
FEB 1993 TILL PRESENT
On April
1990, 2 Squadron was closed due to the fact that the
Mirage 3 aircraft was too old and it was not
economical to maintain the aircraft. It was also
too expensive to keep the aircraft in service.
26 February 1993, 2 Squadron was
officially re-activated due to the Cheetah C’s
arrival. The first two Cheetah C’s were flown on 13
January 1993, flown by Cmdt C.D. Turner and Maj L.J.
Du Plessis. Cmdt C.D. Turner was the Officer
Commanding at this time until 1994. Lt Col J.J.
Toerien started as the new Officer Commanding of 2
Squadron from March 1994 until January 1999. During
his time as Officer Commanding, the squadron
received operational status on the Cheetah C
aircraft, on 29 November 1995. 2 Squadron also
received the award for the Best Flying Squadron
(Gold) in the South African Air Force on 13 November
1998. We also received the silver certificate for
the Prestige Unit in the Air Force on the same
date. Lt Col J.H. Erasmus received the silver
Arthur Child award on the 13 November 1998.
Lt Col J.J. Toerien handed over
command of the squadron on 25 January 1999, to Lt
Col L.J. Du Plessis. On the 29 June 1999, 2
Squadrons Museum was officially opened by Brig Gen
R.J. Beukes, General Officer Commanding Air
Command. Lt Col J.J. Du Plessis handed over command
of the squadron in January 2000, to Lt Col N.J.C.
Scheltema.
Lt Col N.J.C. Scheltema, then
handed over command to Lt Col L. Greeff
in
Dec 2001. Lt Col L. Greeff
handed over command to Lt Col D. Dormehl in
Jan 2004 and remains
Officer Commanding at present.
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