| 2 Squadron | |
|---|---|
 2 SquadronMustang fighters during theKorean War | |
| Active | 1 October 1940–present[1] |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Branch |  South African Air Force |
| Role | Attack/Interception |
| Garrison/HQ | AFB Makhado |
| Nickname | Flying Cheetahs |
| Mottos | Latin:Sursam Prorsusque ("Upward and Onward") |
| Mascots | Historically, twocheetah cubs |
| Equipment | JAS 39 Gripen |
| Decorations |  United States Presidential Unit Citation.svg) Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation |
| Battle honours | East Africa 1941 The Juba & The Lakes; Western Desert 1941–1943 Sidi Rezegh Agedabia Gazala El Alamein; French North Africa 1943 El Hamma & Tunis Mediterranean 1943 South East Europe 1944–1945 Italy 1943–1945, The Sangro & Gothic Line Korea 1950–1953, Pyongyang |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Identification Code | DB (1939–1945)[2]: 14c |
| 2 Squadron crest |  |
2 Squadron is a squadron in theSouth African Air Force which was formed in 1940.[1][3] The squadron has a long history, having been involved in every single combat action in which the SAAF has taken part. During theSecond World War it made a name for itself in the battles for East Africa, before distinguishing itself in North Africa as part of theDesert Air Force, and later in Italy.
The squadron was established on 1 October 1940, when the twoflights of1 Squadron SAAF that were operating inKenya against the Italians in theEast African campaign, were formed into a new squadron. The Kenya-based flights had operated independently from the remainder of 1 Squadron, based in theSudan for several months, and two shootdowns of Italian aircraft made by the Kenya-based flights were retrospectively credited to the new squadron. Initial equipment of the new squadron was nineHawker Furys fighters, nineGloster Gladiators and fiveHawker Hurricanes.[1][4] In November, the Squadron's Gladiators were transferred to 1 Squadron SAAF,[5] and on 3 January 1941, its Hurricanes were also passed to 1 Squadron SAAF, leaving 2 Squadron equipped with Furys, supplemented by three oldGloster Gauntlets inherited from 430 Flight RAF.[6] In March 1941, the squadron was planned to re-equip withCurtiss Mohawk IV fighters, but when the new aircraft were delivered toMombassa their engines proved to be faulty, and had to be sent to Britain for repair.[7] On 17 April the squadron's pilots were sent off to Egypt where the squadron would be re-equipped for service in theWestern Desert campaign.[8] The squadron claimed eight Italian aircraft shot down during the East African campaign.[1]
On arrival in Egypt, the squadron received Hurricanes as temporary equipment until it could convert to its planned equipment ofCurtiss Tomahawks. A detachment of the squadron's Hurricanes operated over the front fromSidi Haneish Airfield from the end of May while the rest of the squadron continued to work up on Tomahawks.[9] By July 1941, it had fully converted to and was operational on the Tomahawk.[10][11]
During the initial years of the war, 2 Squadron served as part of 1 Bomber Brigade in theEast African campaign and theNorth African campaign. After August 1943, it also saw action inSicily, Italy andYugoslavia.[3]
During the Second World War the squadron operated the following aircraft:
The squadron was South Africa's contribution to the United Nations war effort during theKorean War from November 1950 to December 1953.2 Squadron[13] was attached to the18th Fighter-Bomber Wing U.S. Air Force for the duration of the war.[14] Initially flying theP-51 Mustang, the squadron re-equipped with theF-86 Sabre in February 1953. During the war the squadron flew a total of 12,067 sorties, most being dangerous ground attack missions. 74 of the 94 Mustangs and 4 out of the 22 Sabres were lost, along with 33 pilots (14 killed in action, 11 missing in action, 8 killed in accidents).
For its actions, the squadron received theRepublic of KoreaPresidential Unit Citation,United StatesPresidential Unit Citation, and numerous other awards and decorations.[15]
TheCommanding Officer of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing, issued a directive at the end of the war that:[16]
In memory of our gallant South African comrades, it is hereby established, as a new policy that at all Retreat Ceremonies held by this Wing, the playing of our National Anthem shall be preceded by playing the introductory bars of the South African National Anthem, 'Die Stem van Suid-Afrika'. All personnel of this Wing will render the same honours to this Anthem as our own.
Eleven Korean War SAAF casualties are buried at theUnited Nations Memorial Cemetery,Busan, South Korea.
After the Korean War 2 Squadron, based at Waterkloof AFB, was equipped withCanadair CL-13 Sabres. For a period the squadron was stationed atAFB Pietersburg.
Conversion to the newMirage III occurred in 1963 and the squadron moved to AFB Hoedspruit at the end of 1978. The squadron fought in several engagements during theSouth-West Africa/AngolaBorder War.
They continued to fly the Mirages until October 1990. They later re-equipped with theAtlas Cheetah C and D, but remained 'on the books' during the hiatus between Mirage and Cheetah, not being officially disbanded at that point. Reconnaissance was also performed using Vinten Vicon 18 Series 601 pod. Regular night flying was performed and the aircrew also performed air-to-air refuelling operations with theBoeing 707 aircraft of60 Squadron, until these were retired in 2007. The squadron participated in the annual SANDF force preparation exercises which includes using live weapons. During joint exercises with theGerman Air Force in 2006, 40 live V3S "Snake" short-range air-to-air missiles were fired at theDenel Overberg Test Range.[17]
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Moving to Louis Trichardt (nowAFB Makhado) in January 1993, 2 Squadron became the sole front line combat jet squadron in the SAAF.Till 2 April 2008 the squadron operated theCheetah C/D fighter aircraft and was equipped with 28 examples. The squadron flew 1010 hours in 2004.[18]
The last of the Cheetahs were retired on 2 April 2008, later that month the first newJAS 39 Gripen arrived. The SAAF accepted its first Gripen D in April 2008 and the final two Gripen D aircraft arrived in South Africa in July 2009. The first two Gripen Cs arrived on 11 February 2010 with deliveries ongoing as at October 2011. The squadron operates all the SAAF's Gripens except for the first Gripen D, which is assigned to theTest Flight and Development Centre atAFB Overberg.
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Military operations Chinese and Soviet forces •South Korean, U.S., Commonwealth and United Nations forces |
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