12 Squadron SAAF

South African Air Force squadron 12 Squadron Canberra no. 458.jpg 300 A 12 Squadron Canberra T.4 in February 1982 1939–1945?1946–?1963–1990 South Africa 1928 South African Air Force !--- ---> World War IISouth African Border War VL 1942Flintham Vic Combat Codes 2003 Pen & Sword Aviation Barnesly 978-1-84415-691-7 165 Squadron Identification Code 80px 12 Squadron Insignia 12 Squadron was a South African Air Force squadron that served in the Second World War in East Africa and the Western Desert as a medium bomber squadron. After the war, the squadron was used in various roles, including that of a helicopter squadron until 1963, when it was equipped with English Electric Canberra light bombers, remaining a light bomber and reconnaissance squadron until disbanded in 1990. History 12 Squadron was formed in December 1939.Wingrin Dean 12 Squadron https://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/squadrons/28/12-squadron The Unofficial Website on the South African Air Force Dean Wingrin 8 September 2011 On 16 June 1940 it flew the first SAAF bombing raid against Italian forces in Abysinna when it attacked the town of Moyale using Junkers Ju 86 bombers.Potgieter (1970), p. 264Macdonald J.F. Lion with tusk guardant 1945 The Rhodesian Printing and Publishing Co. Ltd. Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia 23 Chapter II – The Story of 237 Squadron https://archive.org/stream/LionWithTuskGuardant/LionGuardant#page/n22/mode/1up 12 Squadron later saw combat during the Second Battle of El Alamein operating Douglas Boston light bombers.Latimer (2002), p. 292 In May 1941 the squadron converted to the Martin Maryland, and moved to Egypt. From then until the end of 1941 the squadron formed part of No.3 (S.A.A.F.) Wing (together with 24 Squadron SAAF and No. 113 Squadron RAF)Shores (2012), p. 231Shores Christopher A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945 Vol I: North Africa June 1940-January 1943 2012 Grub Street. London and used its Marylands to attack Axis troop concentrations and bases. thumb|left|A 12 Squadron Boston medium bomber being armed in the Western Desert: 1942In January 1942 the squadron received the Douglas Boston, using these aircraft on the same roles from 15 March 1942 until the final German surrender in Tunisia. The squadron then moved to Malta, from where it supported the fighting in Sicily and on the Italian mainland, before moving to Italy in October 1943. Assigned to No. 3 Wing with 21 and 24 squadrons. The Bostons were retained until January 1944, when they were replaced with the new Martin Marauder. Both aircraft were used in a similar role, to attack enemy communications behind the front line, although the Marauder saw more service at day, and against strategic targets. After the war the squadron flew its aircraft back to Egypt, where in November 1945 it disbanded. Following the end of the war in Europe the squadron flew South African personnel home until it was disbanded. 12 Squadron was re-formed in October 1946 equipped with Avro Anson aircraft for anti-Tsetse fly spraying duties. It operated in this role in Zululand and Mtubatuba. The squadron was later re-equipped with Sikorsky S-51 helicopters that were at times also utilised in anti-Tsetse fly spraying duties, it but was eventually made a flight of 28 Squadron. The squadron was re-formed in late 1963 to operate English Electric Canberra bombers.Potgieter and Steenkamp (1981), p. 68 It was the only SAAF squadron equipped with Canberras, and they were used as both tactical bombers and high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft.Steyn Leon SAAF Museum News: What happened to the Canberra? http://www.af.mil.za/news/2008/065.htm SAAF News South African Air Force 8 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20170107154603/http://www.af.mil.za/news/2008/065.htm 7 January 2017 The squadron saw combat over Angola during the South African Border War,Lord (2008), pp. 70, 101, 139, 172 and remained active with these aircraft in 1981. 12 Squadron was disbanded in 1990. Two ex-12 Squadron Canberras have been preserved by the SAAF. Aircraft Aircraft flown by 12 Squadron(not necessarily the exact aircraft type or actual aircraft belonging to the squadron.) 160 120 File:Junkers Ju 86, B 3.jpg Junkers Ju.861940 File:Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943 CM2907.jpg Boston Mk.III of 12 Sqn-1943 File:Avro Anson 652A MkI crop img3.jpg Avro Anson1946– File:Sikorsky S-51 no. 1A c. 1954.jpg Sikorsky S-511954– File:Canberra no. 458 a.jpg Canberra B(1)12 & T.41963–1990 File:Sidney Bernard 12 Bomber Suqadron Pin.png Lapel pin of the 12 Bomber Squadron of the South African Air Force during WW2 References Citations Bibliography Latimer Jon Alamein 2002 Harvard University Press Cambridge, Massachusetts 0-674-01016-7 registration https://archive.org/details/alamein0000lati Lord Dick Vlamgat: The Story of the Mirage F1 in the South African Air Force 2008 30° South Publishers Johannesburg, South Africa 978-1-920143-36-7 https://books.google.com/books?id=d2fKavDvJv0C&q=%2212+Squadron%22+SAAF Potgieter D.J. Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa 1 1970 NASOU Potgieter Herman Steenkamp Willem amp Aircraft of the South African Air Force 1981 C. Struik Cape Town 0-86977-133-7 2nd External links June 2017 Category:Squadrons of the South African Air Force SAAF12 Category:Military units and formations established in 1939 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1990 Category:1939 establishments in South Africa S