26 Squadron SAAF

26 Squadron
A Vickers Wellington medium bomber, similar to the type flown by the squadron
Active	24 August 1942 - 12 June 1945
Country
Branch
Role	Maritime patrol Sqn
Garrison/HQ	AFB Waterkloof
Insignia
26 Sqn badge

26 Squadron SAAF is a disbanded squadron of the South African Air Force. The squadron was based at Takoradi, Gold Coast (now Ghana) on the West Coast of Africa during World war II. They flew Vickers Wellingtons on anti-submarine and convoy escort patrols over the Atlantic. The squadron was seconded to No. 298 Wing RAF. ^[1]

History

First formed: 24 August 1942
Formed at: AFB Swartkop, South Africa
First Operational: 4 May 1943
Main Role: Anti-submarine (u-Boat) patrols and convoy escort duties, Atlantic
Main base: Takoradi, Gold Coast (now Ghana), West Africa
Historic aircraft flown: Vickers Wellington MK X and XI
Disbanded: 12 June 1945
War Graves: Takoradi European Public cemetery(Ghana), Du Plantation cemetery(Liberia), Yaba Cemetery (Nigeria)^[2]
Memorials: Bays Hill Memorial(South Africa) Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial(Malta), Umtentweni Memorial(South Africa)

Torpedoes ready for loading aboard a Wellington, 1942

External links

26 Squadron SAAF Web Site (Unofficial)
A Wellington similar to those flown by SAAF 26 Squadron

References

South African Air Force

Leadership	Chiefs of the Air Force Sergeants Major of the Air Force

Active squadrons	2 15 16 17 19 21 22 28 35 41 44

Training and development units	68 Air School 80 Air Navigation School 85 Combat Flying School 87 Helicopter Flying School Central Flying School Test Flight and Development Centre South African Air Force College

Formation aerobatic teams	Silver Falcons

Territorial reserve squadrons	101 102 104 105 106 107 108 110 111

Disbanded air and training squadrons	1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 18 20 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 40 42 43 50 60 103 109 112 114 86 Multi-Engine Flying School 88 Maritime Training School 89 Combat Flying School

Disbanded air defence squadrons	120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129

WW2 Wings of the SAAF	2 3 5 7 21 24 25

Bases	AFB Bloemspruit AFB Durban AFB Hoedspruit AFB Langebaanweg AFB Makhado AFB Overberg AFB Swartkop AFB Waterkloof AFB Ysterplaat AFS Port Elizabeth

Equipment	List of current and historical SAAF aircraft List of weapon systems of the South African Air Force

History	History of the South African Air Force List of obsolete weapon systems of the South African Air Force South African Air Force Memorial South African Air Force Museum Military history of South Africa SAAF squadron identification codes

Official website: www.af.mil.za

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