9 Squadron SAAF
Encyclopedia
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 1944. This transfer was after it had been decided that there was no longer any need to maintain forces on high alert close to Turkey. From here the squadron was tasked to provide air protection of the Suez Canal and the coastline of the Nile Delta.
In September 1944 the squadron was moved to Savoia in Libya, from where it flew fighter sweeps over Crete (December 1944), before being disbanded on 1 February 1945.
The squadron flew Supermarine Spitfire
Mk.VB's and VC's from June 1944-February 1945 and Spitfire Mk.IX's were phased in from 10 November 1944 (being ex-10 Squadron
aircraft when that unit was disbanded on 31 October 1944). The Mk IX aircraft remained in service until February 1945.
| lines = 2
| width = 180
| height = 120
|Spitfire F VB BM597.jpg|Alt Text|Supermarine Spitfire Mk VB/VC
June 1944-Feb 1945|SpitfireIX611a.jpg|Alt Text|Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX
July 1944-Feb 1945
}}
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...
during World War II
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...
. 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
El Gamil
El Gamil is a fortress with an airfield in Port Said Governorate, Egypt. It was the landing site of British paratroopers in the 1956 war....
in Egypt on 28 June 1944. This transfer was after it had been decided that there was no longer any need to maintain forces on high alert close to Turkey. From here the squadron was tasked to provide air protection of the Suez Canal and the coastline of the Nile Delta.
In September 1944 the squadron was moved to Savoia in Libya, from where it flew fighter sweeps over Crete (December 1944), before being disbanded on 1 February 1945.
The squadron flew Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
Mk.VB's and VC's from June 1944-February 1945 and Spitfire Mk.IX's were phased in from 10 November 1944 (being ex-10 Squadron
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...
aircraft when that unit was disbanded on 31 October 1944). The Mk IX aircraft remained in service until February 1945.
Aircraft
Note: Aircraft type photographs may not necessarily represent aircraft of the same mark or actual aircraft belonging to the Squadron.| lines = 2
| width = 180
| height = 120
|Spitfire F VB BM597.jpg|Alt Text|Supermarine Spitfire Mk VB/VC
June 1944-Feb 1945|SpitfireIX611a.jpg|Alt Text|Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX
July 1944-Feb 1945
}}