Special Sub-Topic: The South African Air Force - WWII Click Here To Play: The South African Air Force - WWII

At the beginning of the war Britain had difficulties providing the South African Air Force with suitable aircraft. How did the SAAF acquire suitable aircraft, namely the JU 86 and the JU 52/3m?

The SAAF aquired them from the national airline, the SAA. The RAF was hard pressed to equip its ally with anything worthwhile, so the SAA sold the JU 86 as a bomber, and the JU 52/3m as a transport plane, to the SAAF.

Why was the South African Air Force diffrent from any other Commenwealth air force during World War 2?

It was the only Commonwealth Air Force not to fly under the RAF insignia. Instead it sported an orange, blue, white sign It was also the only Commonwealth Air Force whose name did not begin with "Royal", like the Royal Australian Air Force.

During the invasion of what island did the SAAF support ground forces during WW2?

Madagascar. During May 1942, Madagascar was invaded by South African Ground Forces. The SAAF supported the actions on ground with bombings and supplie drops.

The SAAF played an important role during the Battle for France and the Battle of Britain?

f. The SAAF only saw action over the North African Desert, Sicily, Malta, Italy and Poland - not France or Britain, although some South African pilots did fly for the RAF during this time.

Which of these SAAF pilots took part in the escape from Stalag Luft III, a POW camp?

Lt Dan McGarr. Lt Dan McGarr and two other SAAF pilots took part in the escape along with 50 other prisoners of war. They escaped but were later recaptured by the Gestapo, and rather than being sent back there were executed. The other pilots are pilots of the SAAF.

What were the major hardships the SAAF personnel had to endure during the Desert War?

Slept in the open, short of provisions, almost constantly on the move. The SAAF was constantly on the move, either retreating or advancing, often losing an air base only to take it back two months later. They has to sleep outside in the open, during the cold desert nights and food shortages kept the men hungry.

When where the last bombs dropped by the SAAF in the African "arena"?

12 May 1943. It was the SAAF's 3 Wing that dropped the last bombs in the desert battle on the 12 May 1943. After the battle for the desert most air forces which took part in this battle took time to regroup.

During the war the SAAF helped supply a major uprising with weapons and food. Which uprising was it?

The Warsaw Upirising. In 1944 the Red Army was a few kilometers from the outskirts of Warsaw. So the inhabitants started an uprising, expecting support from the Russians, but latter didn't help and refused to allow Allied bombers to land on Soviet territory. One of the squadrons within return range of Warsaw was an SAAF Bomber Squadron, which, without hesitation, supplied the uprising (despite heavy casualties) and some RAF squadrons and the 205 Polish Bomber Squadron.

Did the SAAF use rocket propelled missiles during WW2?

y. In the last year of fighting many SAAF squadron fighter planes were equipped with rocket proppled missiles which they use to great effect.

About how many SAAF personnel died in action during the six years of fighting in the Second World War?

2300. Of 44,569 personnel, 2,319 were killed in action, 1,000 wounded, and about 280 taken prisoner. The SAAF was a vital element in defeating Erwin Rommel and taking Rome during the Italian Campaign!