3 Squadron SAAF

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An Evening out with the Infantry

A photo of me as a (recently turned) 20-year old 2nd Lieutenant Infantryman in 1982, filling my water bottles with ‘quality’ water (by bush standards) at a waterhole at Umundaungilo village, Ovamboland approximately 2km from the Angolan border. These events are still clear in my mind and of those who were with me. Although some […]

AFB Ondangwa

South Africa secures Gripen engine maintenance contract with GKN Aerospace

This support contract is particularly essential as the South African Air Force has had to manage its tight budget carefully. South Africa has recently signed a contract with GKN Aerospace, a global engineering company, for the maintenance of the engines of its Gripen fighter jets. This contract ensures that both engines and airframes are now […]

Aselsan to Modernize Avionics of Rooivalk Helicopter

South African Denel Rooivalk attack helicopters will be modernized with Aselsan’s avionics under a deal signed during the recently-concluded IDEF-2023 exhibition. Aselsan and Denel Aeronautics signed a memorandum of understanding for the Rooivalk modernization during the African Aerospace and Defense (AAD) exhibition in 2022. The two companies signed a Certificate of Milestone Achievement during IDEF, SavunmaSanayiST.com reported. The South […]

Less than a quarter of SAAF aircraft serviceable

Less than a quarter of the South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) fleet of aircraft is serviceable as budget cuts, COVID-19 disruptions and problems at Denel erode its capabilities. This emerged during a Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) briefing that, amongst others, looked at the status of the maintenance of the SAAF fleet […]

SAAF grounds Gripen fleet

The South African Air Force (SAAF) has temporarily grounded all of it’s Gripen multirole fighter fleet as none are serviceable.According to the Department of Defence (DoD), this is due to a lack of funding for maintenance, as support contracts were not renewed in time. “After a lengthy discussion between the South African Air Force (SAAF), […]

FIRST SHOT COUNTS

Tank Killers Take on Big Game A Soviet T-55 battle tank rumbles slowly through the southern Angolan countryside, its two mates in echelon close behind. The FAPLA tank commander peers nervously at every shadow, at every oddly shaped bush and rock. He knows the South Africans are nearby, and he’s sweating not only from the […]

South Africa’s New Range Rifles

Springbok civilians’ LM4 semiauto CIVILIANS in South Africa – particularly border farmers and cattlemen – have unusual home-defense requirements. Constantly threatened by bands of heavily armed insurgents and an escalating terrorist movement.most of the people with something to protect relied on second-hand FN FALs, Ruger Mini-14s, AR l5’s and an odd lot of weapons imported prior […]

Counter Insurgency In SW Africa

South Africa vs SWAPO Terrorists The story may be apocryphal, but judging by the depth of sentiment expressed when it is recounted, I doubt it. The way it was told to me by a senior member. of SWAPO’s external military command in Addis Ababa a few years ago, it goes like this-the timing is […]

Viewing Posts 1 to 9 (of 9 )

One of the SAAFs front-line squadrons for many years, 3 Squadron was formed in January 1939 at AFB Waterkloof equipped with the Hawker Hartbees and Hurricane Mk II. In September 1939 the squadron moved to Port Elizabeth before being disbanded, only to be reformed at Waterkloof once again on 9 September 1940 with Hurricane Mk 1s. By October the squadron was involved in fighting in East Africa. Flying both Hurricanes and Gladiator Mk IIs, the squadron fought all the way through Somaliland and Abasynia and by the end of 1941 had destroyed over 100 Italian aircraft (24 in air combat). After moving to Asmara, the squadron was disbanded. The squadron was reformed in December 1942 and sent to the Middle East. Flying fighter defence over the port of Aden with Hurricane 11c and Spitfire V aircraft, coastal patrols were also flown from North Africa. Re-equipped with Spitfire IXs in August 1944, 3 Squadron was sent to Italy. Most of its operations involved strafing sorties. Disbanding followed at the end of the Second War War.

Three Squadron was reformed at Baragwanath Airport on 6 September 1952 as a part-time citizen force unit flying Harvards, but disbanded once again in 1957.

In August 1966 the squadron was reformed at AFB Waterkloof as a unit under the control of 2 Squadron, equipped with some Mirage IIIEZs. In February 1970 the unit received squadron colours and in the same year, hardware in the form of the Mirage IIIDZ. The squadron was reactivated as an autonomous squadron in February 1975, receiving the Mirage F1CZ in April 1975 when its Mirage IIIEZ, DZ and D2Z aircraft were transferred to 85 Advanced Flying School. The squadron continued to operate the Mirage F1CZ from Waterkloof AFB with frequent deployments to Namibia during the Border War. Three Squadron was disbanded when the Mirage F1CZs were retired on 30 September 1992.