Asisbiz SAAF No 2 Squadron

Curtiss Tomahawk IIB SAAF 2Sqn TAU force landed North Africa 01

USAAF 41 36675 Curtiss P 40K Kittyhawk SAAF 2Sqn Maj DB Hauptfleisch DBH EV421 North Africa 1942 01

Spitfire HFIXe SAAF 2Sqn DB 5503 and 5611 Waterkloof 1950 01

Spitfire LFIX SAAF 2Sqn DBD MH957 Italy 1943 01

Spitfire MkIX SAAF 2Sqn DBH Italy 1943 03

Spitfire MkVcTrop SAAF 2Sqn DBR JKxxx on mission to Sangro River battlefront Oct 1943 IWM CNA2107a

SAAF No 2 Squadron

During the initial years of the war, 2 Squadron served as part of 1 Bomber Brigade in the East African Campaign as well as the North African Campaign. After August 1943, they also saw action in Sicily, Italy and Yugoslavia.

Active 1 October 1940–present
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, two cheetah cubs
Equipment JAS 39 Gripen

Decorations United States Presidential Unit Citation | 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

Squadron Identification Code DB (1939–1945)

2 Squadron is a squadron in the South African Air Force which was formed in 1940. The squadron has a long history, having been involved in every single combat action in which the SAAF has taken part. During the Second World War it made a name for itself in the battles for East Africa, before distinguishing itself in North Africa as part of the Desert Air Force, and later in Italy.

World War II

The squadron was established on 1 October 1940, when the two flights of 1 Squadron SAAF that were operating in Kenya against the Italians in the East African campaign, were formed into a new squadron. The Kenya-based flights had operated independently from the remainder of 1 Squadron, based in the Sudan 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 nine Hawker Furys fighters, nine Gloster Gladiators and five Hawker Hurricanes. In November, the Squadron's Gladiators were transferred to 1 Squadron SAAF, and on 3 January 1941, its Hurricanes were also passed to 1 Squadron SAAF, leaving 2 Squadron equipped with Furys, supplemented by three old Gloster Gauntlets inherited from 430 Flight RAF. In March 1941, the squadron was planned to re-equip with Curtiss Mohawk IV fighters, but when the new aircraft were delivered to Mombassa their engines proved to be faulty, and had to be sent to Britain for repair. On 17 April the squadron's pilots were sent off to Egypt where the squadron would be re-equipped for service in the Western Desert campaign. The squadron claimed eight Italian aircraft shot down during the East African campaign.

On arrival in Egypt, the squadron received Hurricanes as temporary equipment until it could convert to its planned equipment of Curtiss Tomahawks. A detachment of the squadron's Hurricanes operated over the front from Sidi Haneish Airfield from the end of May while the rest of the squadron continued to work up on Tomahawks. By July 1941, it had fully converted to and was operational on the Tomahawk.

During the initial years of the war, 2 Squadron served as part of 1 Bomber Brigade in the East African campaign and the North African campaign. After August 1943, it also saw action in Sicily, Italy and Yugoslavia.

Aircraft previously operated Hawker Hartebees
Hawker Fury I
Gloster Gauntlet
Gloster Gladiator II
Hawker Hurricane
Tomahawk IIIB June 1941 - May 1942
Kittyhawk I April 1942 - June 1943
Kittyhawk III June 1943 - July 1943
Supermarine Spitfire Vc July 1943 - March 1944
Supermarine Spitfire IX February 1944 - July 1945
North American F-51D Mustang July 1945 - 1953