50 Squadron SAAF

50 Squadron
Junkers F13, similar to those operated by 50 Squadron
Active	1939-c. 1946
Country	South Africa
Branch	South African Air Force

50 Squadron SAAF was a South African Air Force squadron during World War II.

History

50 Squadron was formed on 1 December 1939 by amalgamating the SAAF's 17, 18 and 19 Squadrons.^[1] During the East African Campaign 50 Squadron operated a 'shuttle service' between the warzone in East Africa and South Africa as part of 1 Bomber Transport Brigade. The Brigade was re-designated 5 Wing in February 1941, and continued to fly 'shuttle service' flights between the Mediterranean and South Africa until after the war.^[2]

The squadron operated Junkers F.13FE, Ju-86Z/K-1 and Ju52/3M aircraft which had been requisitioned from the South African Airways at the outbreak of war. The eleven Ju52's were assigned to 51 Flight, operating a shuttle service from Nairobi to Egypt, Middle East and South Africa.

Aircraft

Aircraft flown by 50 Squadron Note: Aircraft type photographs may not necessarily represent aircraft of the same mark or actual aircraft belonging to the Squadron.
Junkers F.13FE 1939-c. 1946  Ju-86Z/K-1 1939-c. 1946  Ju52/3M 1939-c. 1946

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

• Potgieter, Herman; Steenkamp, Willem (1981). Aircraft of the South African Air Force (2nd ed.). Cape Town: C. Struik. ISBN 0-86977-133-7. 

  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
  List of training areas of the South African Air Force	Roodewaal Bombing Range Ditholo Training Area TAB Upington Vastrap Weapons Area
  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