27 Squadron SAAF
Encyclopedia
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. Its final period of service was from 1962 to 1990 when it was finally disbanded when its Albatross aircraft
were de-commisioned.
which had been disbanded the month before. It was placed under control of Coastal Command and employed as a coastal reconnaissance/patrol unit, flying Lockheed Ventura Mk. IV
aircraft, performing convoy
escort and anti-submarine warfare
patrols, or conducting operations off the South African west coast. One flight was based at Aus
and the rest of the squadron flew from Walvis Bay
and Rooikop in the Mandate territory
of South West Africa
. Between February and April 1943 a squadron detachment was deployed to Darling
in the south western Cape to patrol the northern and western approaches to Cape Town harbour
.On 12 April 1943, Ventura number 6457 flew into Dassenberg mountain near Darling shortly after take-off on a training flight killing the entire crew of six. On 12 April 1988 the wreckage was discovered by members of the SAAF Museum and was airlifted off Dassenberg by a Puma of 22 Sqn
. The wreckage is currently stored at the South African Air Force Museum. Darling Airfield in World War II
In June 1944, the squadron was moved to the Western Mediterranean Theatre, where their Ventura's were upgraded to Ventura Mk.V's. One flight was based at La Senia
in Algeria
and commenced anti-submarine patrols on 18 July 1944. A second flight was deployed to Hal Far in Malta
, also on anti-submarine duties and re-joined the squadron in October 1944.
In November 1944, one flight returned to AFS Swartkop
in South Africa via Egypt
, arriving home in January 1945. The remaining flights were converted to Vickers Warwick V's
and Vickers Wellington XIV's
between February and March 1945. By this time the squadron had been moved to Gianaclis in Egypt and were flying air-sea rescue missions until this duty was taken over by the Royal Air Force
621 Squadron
. After handing over to the RAF, the squadron returned to South Africa and was disbanded in December 1945.
The squadron was reconstituted at AFB Ysterplaat
in January 1951 as a part-time maritime patrol unit, still equipped with Venturas V's until 1958 when it was again disbanded. It remained inactive until October 1962 when it was re-established at AFB Ysterplaat for inshore maritime reconnaissance duties. It was initially equipped with Douglas C-47's and the squadron received Piaggio P-166S Albatross
maritime patrol aircraft in 1969. On receipt of the new aircraft, the squadron moved to Cape Town International Airport
from which it operated, as a maritime patrol squadron, until October 1990 when it was disbanded for the last time.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
maritime patrol squadron of the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
. It was disbanded after the war and resurrected in the same role from 1951 to 1958. Its final period of service was from 1962 to 1990 when it was finally disbanded when its Albatross aircraft
Piaggio P.166
The Piaggio P.166 is a twin-engine pusher-type utility aircraft developed by the Italian aircraft manufacturer Piaggio Aero.The aircraft is known as Albatross in South African military service....
were de-commisioned.
History
27 Squadron was founded on 24 August 1942 at Eerste Rivier, out of the aircrew and ground staff of 8 Squadron8 Squadron SAAF
8 Squadron was a South African Air Force squadron during World War II and was again active between 1951 and 2001. During this second period, it was designated at different times as either a Citizen Force or Permanent Force squadron and was disbanded on 31 March 2001.-History:It was formed in...
which had been disbanded the month before. It was placed under control of Coastal Command and employed as a coastal reconnaissance/patrol unit, flying Lockheed Ventura Mk. IV
Lockheed Ventura
The Lockheed Ventura was a bomber and patrol aircraft of World War II, used by United States and British Commonwealth forces in several guises...
aircraft, performing convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
escort and anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
patrols, or conducting operations off the South African west coast. One flight was based at Aus
Aus, Namibia
Aus is a village in Karas Region in southern Namibia. It lies on a railway line and the B4 national road, 230 km west of Keetmanshoop and about 125 km east of Lüderitz. Trains from Keetmanshoop now terminate at the village but formerly continued on to Lüderitz. The village is small but...
and the rest of the squadron flew from Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay , is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies...
and Rooikop in the Mandate territory
League of Nations mandate
A League of Nations mandate was a legal status for certain territories transferred from the control of one country to another following World War I, or the legal instruments that contained the internationally agreed-upon terms for administering the territory on behalf of the League...
of South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
. Between February and April 1943 a squadron detachment was deployed to Darling
Darling, Western Cape
Darling is a small town in a farming area on the west coast region of the Western Cape, about 75 km from Cape Town.By the beginning of the 18th century about 29 farmers lived in an area called Groenkloof and on one of these farms, Langfontein, Darling was founded in 1853...
in the south western Cape to patrol the northern and western approaches to Cape Town harbour
Port of Cape Town
The Port of Cape Town is the port of the city of Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated in Table Bay.Because of its position along one of the world's busiest trade routes it is one of the busiest ports in South Africa, handling the largest amount of fresh fruit and second only to Durban as a...
.On 12 April 1943, Ventura number 6457 flew into Dassenberg mountain near Darling shortly after take-off on a training flight killing the entire crew of six. On 12 April 1988 the wreckage was discovered by members of the SAAF Museum and was airlifted off Dassenberg by a Puma of 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:...
. The wreckage is currently stored at the South African Air Force Museum. Darling Airfield in World War II
In June 1944, the squadron was moved to the Western Mediterranean Theatre, where their Ventura's were upgraded to Ventura Mk.V's. One flight was based at La Senia
Es Sénia
Es Sénia is a municipality in Oran Province, Algeria. It is the seat of Es Sénia District. It contains a university as well as the international airport of Oran Es Sénia....
in Algeria
French Algeria
French Algeria lasted from 1830 to 1962, under a variety of governmental systems. From 1848 until independence, the whole Mediterranean region of Algeria was administered as an integral part of France, much like Corsica and Réunion are to this day. The vast arid interior of Algeria, like the rest...
and commenced anti-submarine patrols on 18 July 1944. A second flight was deployed to Hal Far in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, also on anti-submarine duties and re-joined the squadron in October 1944.
In November 1944, one flight returned to AFS Swartkop
AFB Swartkop
AFB Swartkop is an air force base in South Africa. It is managed as part of AFB Waterkloof and houses one of the three branches of the South African Air Force Museum...
in South Africa via Egypt
Kingdom of Egypt
The Kingdom of Egypt was the first modern Egyptian state, lasting from 1922 to 1953. The Kingdom was created in 1922 when the British government unilaterally ended its protectorate over Egypt, in place since 1914. Sultan Fuad I became the first king of the new state...
, arriving home in January 1945. The remaining flights were converted to Vickers Warwick V's
Vickers Warwick
The Vickers Warwick was a multi-purpose British aircraft used during the Second World War. Built by Vickers-Armstrongs at Brooklands, Surrey, the Warwick was used by the Royal Air Force as a transport, air-sea rescue and maritime reconnaissance platform, and by the civilian British Overseas...
and Vickers Wellington XIV's
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engine, long range medium bomber designed in the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey, by Vickers-Armstrongs' Chief Designer, R. K. Pierson. It was widely used as a night bomber in the early years of the Second World War, before being displaced as a...
between February and March 1945. By this time the squadron had been moved to Gianaclis in Egypt and were flying air-sea rescue missions until this duty was taken over by the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
621 Squadron
No. 621 Squadron RAF
No. 621 Squadron RAF was a reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II, flying from Somaliland and Aden. It was after the war stationed in Egypt and Palestine and tasked with air-sea rescue and was also active in Operation Sunburn, looking for illegal immigrants.-History:No...
. After handing over to the RAF, the squadron returned to South Africa and was disbanded in December 1945.
The squadron was reconstituted at AFB Ysterplaat
AFB Ysterplaat
Air Force Base Ysterplaat is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is located in Cape Town, on the southwestern coast of South Africa.The name Ysterplaat is Afrikaans; it means Iron Plate in English....
in January 1951 as a part-time maritime patrol unit, still equipped with Venturas V's until 1958 when it was again disbanded. It remained inactive until October 1962 when it was re-established at AFB Ysterplaat for inshore maritime reconnaissance duties. It was initially equipped with Douglas C-47's and the squadron received Piaggio P-166S Albatross
Piaggio P.166
The Piaggio P.166 is a twin-engine pusher-type utility aircraft developed by the Italian aircraft manufacturer Piaggio Aero.The aircraft is known as Albatross in South African military service....
maritime patrol aircraft in 1969. On receipt of the new aircraft, the squadron moved to Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town International Airport is the primary airport serving the city of Cape Town, and is the second busiest airport in South Africa and third busiest in Africa. Located approximately from the city centre, the airport was opened in 1954 to replace Cape Town's previous airport in the suburb of...
from which it operated, as a maritime patrol squadron, until October 1990 when it was disbanded for the last time.