South African Air Force 2020 - Embracing our collective heritageTechnical information: Text by Dineo Poo Stamp issue date: 10 September 2020 When the Union of South Africa came into being in 1910 as a self-governing dominion of the British Empire, a motion was set in place for the creation of an independent South African Air Force (SAAF). The Airforce came into being on 1 February 1920, the date on which Col Sir Pierre van Ryneveld was appointed as Director of Air Services. The SAAF started with over 100 aircraft donated by Great Britain. Zwartkop Air Station was established shortly thereafter as the first formal military airfield in sub-Saharan Africa in 1921! The rise of the SAAF enabled the aviation industry to grow as the pilots were trained. The airmail service and the trans-Africa service also started in the 1920s. The SAAF grew rapidly in the 1930s and several aircraft were purchased to upgrade the fleet. The expansion stood the SAAF in good stead during World War II as sufficient craft were available and enough personnel had been trained. The SAAF had to drastically scale down after the war. The SAAF contingent was the fourth largest to participate in the 1948/1949 Berlin Airlift and in 1950 no. 2 Squadron was sent to Korea to serve with the United Nations forces. The SAAF also distinguished itself in non-combat activities such as assisting Mozambique during the floods of 1988. Unfortunately from the 1950s to the end of the 1980s, the SAAF became involved in conflicts with neighbouring countries and organisations. These included the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU PF) and Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) Zimbabwe; South West African National Union (SWAPO) in Namibia and the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). The SAAF expanded greatly during this time and sophisticated aircraft were also built in South Africa due to the embargo on the sale of armaments to South Africa. The SAAF joined the forces of Transkei, Ciskei, Bophuthatswana and Venda, Mkhonto we Siswe and Azanian People’s Liberation Army (APLA) in 1994 to form the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Currently the focus of the SAAF is on strategic defence and this is also evident in the aircraft sourced since the formation of the SANDF. The Post Office has honoured the SAAF by issuing a set of 10 self-adhesive Standard Postage stamps featuring different aircraft. The Stamps and two First Day Covers were designed by Thea Clemons of Philatelic Services. The stamp sheet edge features the changing emblems of the SAAF over the years from 1921 to 2020. The aircraft featured on the stamps are: De Havilland DH9: The British-built DH9 was part of the “Imperial Gift” and formed a major part of the SAAF’s capability from 1920 until 1937. Hawker Hurricane Mk II: The British-built Hurricane was the first modern fighter aircraft to be acquired by the SAAF in 1939 and was used extensively for operational training in South Africa until 1945. C-47 Dakota: The hardy American-built Dakota has performed valuable passenger and cargo transport duties in the SAAF since 1943. It has been upgraded and fitted with turbo-prop engines. F86F Sabre: The American-built Sabre Mk 6 was flown operationally by the SAAF during the Korean War in 1953. C130B Hercules: The American-built Hercules has been with the SAAF since 1963 with great dependability. Mirage IIICZ: The French-built Mirage IIICZ was the SAAF’s first true supersonic jet fighter acquired in 1963. Other versions of the Mirage III were significantly upgraded locally as the Cheetah. Oryx: The South African-built Oryx was a significant re-design of the French-built Puma medium lift helicopter. MBB BK117: The German-built BK-117 was a utility helicopter flown by all the air wings of the former Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda, Ciskei (TBVC) states. Rooivalk AH-2A: The South African-built Rooivalk is a world-class attack helicopter taken into service in 1999. JAS 39 Gripen D: The Swedish-built Gripen is a fourth-generation multi-role jet fighter acquired by the SAAF and customised to fulfil the role of an Advanced Light Fighter Aircraft. Acknowledgements: SA Air Force Museum, Swartkop References: www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/south-african-air-force-established |
