No. 2 Squadron
South African Air Force (SAAF)

Background
South African Air Force (SAAF) No. 2 Squadron flew the F-51D Mustang in the Korean War.

Wartime History
During the Korean War, in support of the United Nations (U.N.) the SAAF deplyed No. 2 Squadron under the command of Cmdt S. van Breda Theron that shipped out from South Africa to Johnson AFB arriving September 25, 1950 and began training on the F-51D Mustang. Afterwards, attahed to the U.S. Air Force (USAF) 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing (18th FBW) based at Pusan East Airfield (K-9) in South Korea. Later, the squadron moved to Suwon Airfield (K-13) then Chinhae Airfield (K-10).

On May 11, 1951 a flight of four F-51D Mustangs led by Lt. Vernon R. Kruger took off from Chinhae Airfield (K-10) on a road interdiction in the Kaesng area north of Seoul. The four bombed a small dam then returned to refuel and rearmed with rockets. The four Mustangs took off from Chinhae Airfield (K-10) on another search mission with Blaauw and Kruger flying low with the other two flying top cover west of Singe. The low pair flew over what appeared to be anti-aircraft guns and while pulling up to turn, Kruger was fired on. The Mustangs fired rockets and strafed them. After pulling up, F-51D Mustang 309 pilot Lt. Vernon R. Kruger was hit with but managed to bail out. Circling the downed pilot, F-51D Mustang 322 pilot Major Jan P. D. Blaauw ran low on fuel and force landed nearby. Afterwards, the pair were rescued by Sikorsky S-51helicopter.

On November 13, 1951 the squadron took off from Hoengsong Airfield (K-46) on a close support mission against Communist infantry dug in along a ridge west of Ch'ŏrwŏn (Ch’orwon) north of the 38th parallel. Lost is RF-51D Mustang 365 pilot 2nd Lt. Frank J. Grobler who was later rescued within 5-10 minutes by U.S. Army Bell H-13 Sioux helicopter pilot 1st Lt. Harry W. Townsend.

References
South Africa's Flying Cheetahs in Korea (1991) by Dermot Moore & Peter Bagshawe
Ciel de Gloire - Squadron 2 - SAAF "Flying Cheetahs"

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