KJ 1942-1945[2] (1942–1943)[3] (Squadron OC: Maj S.F. du Toit flew with personal identification code DUT in 1942-1943[4])
4 Squadron Insignia
It was resurrected in 1951 and remained active until 1958. Its final period of active service was from 1961 to 1991. Its final aircraft were Impala Mk IIs. It was based at Lanseria Airport at the time of final disbandment.
The squadron was originally equipped with Hawker Hartbees, Hawker Furys and Wapitis when it was first formed in April 1939 in Durban. It was disbanded soon thereafter (December 1939) and resurrected at AFB Waterkloof on 24 March 1941 flying Hurricanes.[1] Operational training took place in Kenya and soon the squadron was responsible for protection against possible Italian attacks from Somaliland. While in Kenya, it received a number of Curtiss Mohawks which had been taken over from French orders.[5]
World War IIedit
On 1 September 1941 the squadron began moving to Egypt and converted to Tomahawks. Its first combat patrol came on 12 November, early in Operation Crusader as a fighter-bomber squadron. The squadron remained in Egypt to take part in all of the desert battles from Operation Crusader to El Alamein. The squadron also supported the advance into Tunisia as well as the invasions of Sicily and Italy. The Kittyhawks were replaced by Spitfires in July 1943. In August it moved on to Sicily and to the Italian mainland in September from where it concentrated on ground attack missions until the end of hostilities. 4 Squadron remained in Italy for two months after the end of the war; on 12 July its personnel began returning to South Africa. The squadron was disbanded in October 1945.[5]
Post World War IIedit
4 Squadron was reformed in January 1951 at AFB Waterkloof as the Active Citizen Force element of 1 Squadron with Harvards and Spitfires until once again disbanded in October 1958. On 1 November 1961, it was reformed at Swartkop, flying Harvards and in August 1972 the first Impala Jets were received.
The squadron moved from Swartkop to Waterkloof and then to Lanseria Airport, where it received Impala Mk IIs. It saw numerous deployments to South-West Africa and Mpacha and Rundu airfields in southern Angola.[6] Its home base remained at Lanseria until it was disbanded in September 1991.[1]
Aircraftedit
Aircraft flown by 4 Squadron Note: Aircraft type photographs may not necessarily represent aircraft of the same mark or actual aircraft belonging to the squadron.
^ abRickard, J. "History of War". No. 4 Squadron (SAAF): Second World War. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
^Cooper, Tom (2 September 2003). . Central, Eastern and Southern Africa Database: Angola. Air Combat Information Unit. Archived from the original on 1 December 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
Bibliographyedit
Agar-Hamilton, J.A.I.; Turner, L.F.C. (1952). Crisis in the Desert: May – July 1942. Vol. II (1st ed.). Cape Town: Oxford University Press.
Brown, James Ambrose (1970). A Gathering of Eagles: South African Forces World War II: Volume II. Cape Town: Purnell.
Brown, James Ambrose (1974). Eagles Strike: South African Forces World War II: Volume IV. Cape Town: Purnell. ISBN0-360-00196-3.
Brown, James Ambrose (1990). The War of a Hundred Days:Springboks in Somalia and Abyssinia 1940-1941. Rivonia: Ashanti. ISBN1-874800-10-3.
Playfair, I.S.O.; with Stitt, G.M.S; Molony, C.J.C. & Toomer, S.E. (2004) [1st. pub. HMSO:1954]. Butler, J.R.M (ed.). Mediterranean and Middle East Volume I: The Early Successes Against Italy (to May 1941). History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Uckfield, UK: Naval & Military Press. ISBN1-84574-065-3.
Playfair, I.S.O.; Molony, C.J.C.; with Flynn, F.C. & Gleave, T.P. (2004) [1st. pub. HMSO:1966]. Butler, James (ed.). The Mediterranean and Middle East, Volume IV: The Destruction of the Axis Forces in Africa. History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series. Uckfield, UK: Naval & Military Press. ISBN1-84574-068-8.
Shores, Christopher F. (1973). Pictorial History of the Mediterranean Air War. Vol. II: RAF 1943–45. London: Ian Allan. ISBN0-7110-0433-1.
Media related to 4 Squadron SAAF at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
squadron, saaf, south, african, force, unit, which, served, during, world, squadronsupermarine, spitfire, ixactiveapril, 1939, december, 1939march, 1941, october, 1945january, 1951, october, 1958november, 1961, september, 1991, countrybranchsouth, african, for. 4 Squadron SAAF was a South African Air Force unit which served during World War II 4 SquadronSupermarine Spitfire Mk IXActiveApril 1939 December 1939March 1941 October 1945January 1951 October 1958November 1961 September 1991 1 CountryBranchSouth African Air ForceRoleFighter Bomber Counter InsurgencyMotto s Mors Hosti Death to the Enemy 1 InsigniaSquadron Identification CodeKJ 1942 1945 2 1942 1943 3 Squadron OC Maj S F du Toit flew with personal identification code DUT in 1942 1943 4 4 Squadron Insignia It was resurrected in 1951 and remained active until 1958 Its final period of active service was from 1961 to 1991 Its final aircraft were Impala Mk IIs It was based at Lanseria Airport at the time of final disbandment Contents 1 History 1 1 Establishment and deployment 1 2 World War II 1 3 Post World War II 2 Aircraft 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Bibliography 5 External linksHistory editEstablishment and deployment edit The squadron was originally equipped with Hawker Hartbees Hawker Furys and Wapitis when it was first formed in April 1939 in Durban It was disbanded soon thereafter December 1939 and resurrected at AFB Waterkloof on 24 March 1941 flying Hurricanes 1 Operational training took place in Kenya and soon the squadron was responsible for protection against possible Italian attacks from Somaliland While in Kenya it received a number of Curtiss Mohawks which had been taken over from French orders 5 World War II edit On 1 September 1941 the squadron began moving to Egypt and converted to Tomahawks Its first combat patrol came on 12 November early in Operation Crusader as a fighter bomber squadron The squadron remained in Egypt to take part in all of the desert battles from Operation Crusader to El Alamein The squadron also supported the advance into Tunisia as well as the invasions of Sicily and Italy The Kittyhawks were replaced by Spitfires in July 1943 In August it moved on to Sicily and to the Italian mainland in September from where it concentrated on ground attack missions until the end of hostilities 4 Squadron remained in Italy for two months after the end of the war on 12 July its personnel began returning to South Africa The squadron was disbanded in October 1945 5 Post World War II edit 4 Squadron was reformed in January 1951 at AFB Waterkloof as the Active Citizen Force element of 1 Squadron with Harvards and Spitfires until once again disbanded in October 1958 On 1 November 1961 it was reformed at Swartkop flying Harvards and in August 1972 the first Impala Jets were received The squadron moved from Swartkop to Waterkloof and then to Lanseria Airport where it received Impala Mk IIs It saw numerous deployments to South West Africa and Mpacha and Rundu airfields in southern Angola 6 Its home base remained at Lanseria until it was disbanded in September 1991 1 Aircraft editAircraft flown by 4 SquadronNote Aircraft type photographs may not necessarily represent aircraft of the same mark or actual aircraft belonging to the squadron nbsp Hawker Hartbeest1939 nbsp Hawker Fury1939 nbsp Westland Wapiti1939 nbsp Hawker Hurricane1941 nbsp Curtiss 87A Kittyhawk1941 1943 nbsp Captured Messerschmitt Bf 109FNorth Africa 1943 nbsp Supermarine Spitfire Mk V1943 1945 1951 1958 nbsp North American T 6 Harvard1951 1958 1961 1972 nbsp Atlas Impala Mk I1972 1991 nbsp Atlas Impala Mk IIc 1980 1991See also editList of World War II aces from South AfricaReferences editFootnotes Citations a b c d The Airforce Squadrons 4 Squadron Retrieved September 14 2011 Flintham Vic 2003 Combat Codes Barnesly Pen amp Sword Aviation p 165 ISBN 978 1 84415 691 7 Martin H J Orpen N D 1978 Eagles Victorious South African Forces World War II Cape Town Purnell p 44 ISBN 0 86843 008 0 Flintham Vic 2003 Combat Codes Barnesly Pen amp Sword Aviation p 229 ISBN 978 1 84415 691 7 a b Rickard J History of War No 4 Squadron SAAF Second World War Retrieved September 14 2011 Cooper Tom 2 September 2003 Angola SAAF Bushwacks Six Helicopters Central Eastern and Southern Africa Database Angola Air Combat Information Unit Archived from the original on 1 December 2011 Retrieved 14 September 2011 Bibliography edit Agar Hamilton J A I Turner L F C 1952 Crisis in the Desert May July 1942 Vol II 1st ed Cape Town Oxford University Press Brown James Ambrose 1970 A Gathering of Eagles South African Forces World War II Volume II Cape Town Purnell Brown James Ambrose 1974 Eagles Strike South African Forces World War II Volume IV Cape Town Purnell ISBN 0 360 00196 3 Brown James Ambrose 1990 The War of a Hundred Days Springboks in Somalia and Abyssinia 1940 1941 Rivonia Ashanti ISBN 1 874800 10 3 Playfair I S O with Stitt G M S Molony C J C amp Toomer S E 2004 1st pub HMSO 1954 Butler J R M ed Mediterranean and Middle East Volume I The Early Successes Against Italy to May 1941 History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series Uckfield UK Naval amp Military Press ISBN 1 84574 065 3 Playfair I S O Molony C J C with Flynn F C amp Gleave T P 2004 1st pub HMSO 1966 Butler James ed The Mediterranean and Middle East Volume IV The Destruction of the Axis Forces in Africa History of the Second World War United Kingdom Military Series Uckfield UK Naval amp Military Press ISBN 1 84574 068 8 Shores Christopher F 1973 Pictorial History of the Mediterranean Air War Vol II RAF 1943 45 London Ian Allan ISBN 0 7110 0433 1 External links edithttps www defenceweb co za wp content uploads Repository A Guide to the SANDF A guide to the SANDF chapter 10 saaf app b squadrons pdf nbsp Media related to 4 Squadron SAAF at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 4 Squadron SAAF amp oldid 1192348357, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
