South African Air Force (SAAF)

Background
On February 1, 1920 the South African Air Force (SAAF) was established with surplus planes from the United Kingdom.

World War II
At the start of World War II, the SAAF comandeered South African Air Lines planes for military use. On September 21, 1939 No. 16 Squadron began flying maritime patrols off South Africa. In early 1942 during Operation Ironclad, the SAAF flew reconassiance flights over Madagascar with seven plans lost including one pilot killed, one dead in an accident and one deid from disease.

During the Korean War, in support of the United Nations (U.N.) the SAAF deployed 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 F-51D Mustangs. 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).

No. 2 Squadron "Flying Cheetahs"

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