#ThrowBackThursday: On this day – February 1, 1920

Febuary 1st marks the commemoration of the establishment of the South African Air Force (SAAF).

February 1, 2018

F.C. Pelser 1 minute read

Febuary 1 marks the commemoration of the establishment of the South African Air Force (SAAF).

Today, 98 years ago, the Air Force was established, led by Lieutenant Colonel Pierre van Reyneveld, as Director of Air Services. Although the SAAF was officially established in 1920, its origin could be traced back to around 1912 with the formation of the Union Defence Force (UDF), known today as the South African National Defense Force (SANDF).

A year after its establishment, the SAAF bought a site east of Thaba Tshwane (known then as Roberts Height and later also Voortrekkerhoogte) where the first aerodrome was built, and named Zwartkops.

Next to the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom (RAF), SAAF is the world’s second oldest air force and also the first Air Force of the Commonwealth of Nations which consisted of over 50 countries at the time.

In 1922, the first SAAF operation was launched to assist in crushing the so called ‘Rand Ravolt,’ an armed uprising of mine workers in Johannesburg. The SAAF bombed targets and unfortunately lost a few aircraft to ground fire. Colonel Van Ryneveld was shot down, but survived.