10 Squadron SAAF
Encyclopedia
10 Squadron was formed as a South African Air Force fighter bomber squadron on 1 April 1939 and was deployed in a coastal defence role as part of Coastal Command until 1943 and was disbanded after the threat of Japanese naval actions off the South African coast had waned. It was re-activated as a fighter squadron on 25 May 1944 and deployed to the Middle East where the squadron saw service in Syria, Libya and the Aegean and was disbanded at the end of the war in Italy
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The squadron was reinstated as a UAV
squadron in January 1986 in Potchefstroom to provide artillery reconnaissance and fire control for the South African Artillery Corps. The unit was operationally deployed to Angola between 1987 and 1991 and was disbanded for the last time on 31 March 1991 when the UAV's were transferred to Kentron for operational control and deployment.
The squadron role was changed back to that of a fighter squadron in February 1942 and it was designated for home defense purposes in Natal with Hawker Furies under command of Coastal CommandCoastal Command consisted of 27 Sqn
at Walvis Bay and Rooikop and a detachment at Aus; 6 Sqn
at Eerste River; 23 Sqn at Darling; 25 Sqn
at Port Elizabeth and East London; 22 Sqn
at Lombazi and Matubatuba; 29 Sqn
also at Lombazi and 10 Sqn
at Durban and Isipingo. Martin and Orpen, (1979) p.275. Fearing the possible presence of a Japanese carrier force attempting to disrupt shipping in South African waters, 6 and 10 Fighter Squadrons were re-equipped with Mohawks and later Kittyhawks and organised on a mobile basis, based at Reunion Air Field close to Durban. This structure allowed the squadron to be rapidly deployed forward to airfields along the coast to allow fighter operations in the threat area. By July 1943 the Japanese threat had receded and the squadron was disbanded.
The Squadron was re-established on 25 May 1944 and was deployed to Almaza in Syria, initally for training and later as a fighter squadron equipped with Spitfire Mk. V's. By the end of June 1944 the Squadron was moved to Idku
in the Nile Delta where they took over convoy escort and patrol duties from 336 (Hellenic) Squadron
under command of 219 Group (RAF). The squadron aircraft were upgraded to Spitfire Mk. IX's in August 1944 and was tasked with high altitude interceptions of reconnaissance and bomber aircraft. In September the squadron was moved to Savoia in Libya for operations over Crete and the Aegean as well as anti-submarine patrols in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was disbanded on 31 October 1944 and its aircraft were transferred to 9 Squadron
.Other sources state the date of disbandment as 10 November 1944.
in Angola in 1987.
It was finally disbanded on 31 March 1991 after the Seeker system was transferred to Kentron for operations on behalf of the SADF. The squadron flew two models: the Seeker-P model for training and the Seeker-D for operational deployment.
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
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The squadron was reinstated as a UAV
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
squadron in January 1986 in Potchefstroom to provide artillery reconnaissance and fire control for the South African Artillery Corps. The unit was operationally deployed to Angola between 1987 and 1991 and was disbanded for the last time on 31 March 1991 when the UAV's were transferred to Kentron for operational control and deployment.
World War 2
10 Squadron was established on 1 April 1939 as 10 Bomber Fighter Squadron at East London. It was assigned as an Active Citizen Force squadron and was placed under command Eastern Province Command. On 1 September 1939 it was re-designated as 10 (F.B.) SquadronThis was a standard acronym for "Fighter-Bomber" squadron. and re-named once again as 16 (B) Squadron"Bomber" squadron. on 1 December 1939 under command of Witwatersrand Command while the designation of 10 (F.B.) Squadron was kept in reserve to allow for possible expansion in this type of Squadron.The squadron role was changed back to that of a fighter squadron in February 1942 and it was designated for home defense purposes in Natal with Hawker Furies under command of Coastal CommandCoastal Command consisted of 27 Sqn
27 Squadron SAAF
27 Squadron was established as a World War II maritime patrol squadron of the South African Air Force. It was disbanded after the war and resurrected in the same role from 1951 to 1958...
at Walvis Bay and Rooikop and a detachment at Aus; 6 Sqn
6 Squadron SAAF
6 Squadron was a South African Air Force squadron as from World War II. It was disbanded and re-created a number of times, until finally disbanded in October 1990.The Squadron was formed in Cape Town in April 1939 and was equipped with Westland Wapiti IIIs...
at Eerste River; 23 Sqn at Darling; 25 Sqn
25 Squadron SAAF
25 Squadron was a maritime patrol and later medium bomber squadron of the South African Air Force during World War II. It was re-constituted twice between 1951 and 1990 as a medium transport squadron and was finally disbanded in October 1990....
at Port Elizabeth and East London; 22 Sqn
22 Squadron SAAF
22 Squadron is a squadron of the South African Air Force. It is currently a maritime helicopter squadron operating Lynx and Oryx helicopters for the South African Navy.-History:...
at Lombazi and Matubatuba; 29 Sqn
29 Squadron SAAF
29 Squadron was one of the Coastal Command squadronsCoastal Command consisted of 27 Sqn at Walvis Bay and Rooikop and a detachment at Aus; 6 Sqn at Eerste River; 23 Sqn at Darling; 25 Sqn at Port Elizabeth and East London; 22 Sqn at Lombazi and Matubatuba; 29 Sqn also at Lombazi and 10 Sqn at...
also at Lombazi and 10 Sqn
10 Squadron SAAF
10 Squadron was formed as a South African Air Force fighter bomber squadron on 1 April 1939 and was deployed in a coastal defence role as part of Coastal Command until 1943 and was disbanded after the threat of Japanese naval actions off the South African coast had waned...
at Durban and Isipingo. Martin and Orpen, (1979) p.275. Fearing the possible presence of a Japanese carrier force attempting to disrupt shipping in South African waters, 6 and 10 Fighter Squadrons were re-equipped with Mohawks and later Kittyhawks and organised on a mobile basis, based at Reunion Air Field close to Durban. This structure allowed the squadron to be rapidly deployed forward to airfields along the coast to allow fighter operations in the threat area. By July 1943 the Japanese threat had receded and the squadron was disbanded.
The Squadron was re-established on 25 May 1944 and was deployed to Almaza in Syria, initally for training and later as a fighter squadron equipped with Spitfire Mk. V's. By the end of June 1944 the Squadron was moved to Idku
Idku
Idku, also spelt Edkou is a town in Al Buhayrah Governorate, Egypt....
in the Nile Delta where they took over convoy escort and patrol duties from 336 (Hellenic) Squadron
336th Bomber Squadron (HAF)
The 336th Bomber Squadron , callsign "Olympus", is the second oldest squadron in service with the Hellenic Air Force, forming part of the 116th Combat Wing...
under command of 219 Group (RAF). The squadron aircraft were upgraded to Spitfire Mk. IX's in August 1944 and was tasked with high altitude interceptions of reconnaissance and bomber aircraft. In September the squadron was moved to Savoia in Libya for operations over Crete and the Aegean as well as anti-submarine patrols in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was disbanded on 31 October 1944 and its aircraft were transferred to 9 Squadron
9 Squadron SAAF
9 Squadron SAAF was a short lived squadron of the South African Air Force during World War II. It was formed on 19 May 1944 in Egypt and was transferred to Minnick in Syria shortly after being formed. It spent less than a month in Syria when it was re-deployed back to El Gamil in Egypt on 28 June...
.Other sources state the date of disbandment as 10 November 1944.
Later history
The squadron was re-activated in January 1986 at AFB Potchefstroom and equipped with the Kentron Seeker UAV's in the role of reconnaissance and artillery weapons delivery guidance support. The squadron first deployed these aircraft operationally during Operation ModularOperation Modular
Operation Modular was a military operation by the South African Defence Force during the South African Border War. It formed part of what has come to be called the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale....
in Angola in 1987.
It was finally disbanded on 31 March 1991 after the Seeker system was transferred to Kentron for operations on behalf of the SADF. The squadron flew two models: the Seeker-P model for training and the Seeker-D for operational deployment.