View source for 24 Squadron SAAF

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= 24 Squadron
| image=Buccaneer 418.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption=Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S.Mk 50 no. 418 of 24 Sqn
|dates=5 March 1941 – 6 November 1945<br />1 May 1965 – March 1991
|country= {{flagicon| South Africa|1928}}
|allegiance=
|branch= [[South African Air Force]]
|type=
|role=Bomber/Strike Squadron
|size=
|command_structure=
|current_commander=
|garrison=[[AFB Waterkloof]] when disbanded.
|garrison_label=
|ceremonial_chief=
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|patron=
|motto=''Per Noctem Per Diem'' Through Night, Through Day<ref name=SAAF24Sqn>{{cite web|title=South African Air Force (Unofficial)|url=http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/squadrons/29/24-squadron|work=24 Squadron}}</ref>
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|battles=
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|commander1=
|commander1_label=
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<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol='''OZ''' 1942<ref>{{cite book|last=Flintham|first=Vic|title=Combat Codes|year=2003|publisher=Pen & Sword Aviation|location=Barnesly|ISBN=9781844156917|pages=165}}</ref>
|identification_symbol_label=Squadron Identification Code
|identification_symbol_2= [[File:24 Squadron SAAF Crest.png]]
|identification_symbol_2_label=Squadron Crest
}}

'''24 Squadron SAAF''' is a disbanded [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] of the [[South African Air Force]]. Its last role was as an attack aircraft squadron. The squadron was first formed during [[World War II]] on 5 March 1941 by renumbering [[14 Squadron SAAF]] in Egypt. It later carried out bombing operations in Kenya and North Africa, before taking part in the [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]] before disbanding in late 1945 at the conclusion of hostilities. The squadron was later re-raised and operated jet aircraft in an attack role during the [[South African Border War|Border War]]. It was finally disbanded in early 1991.

==History==
On 5 March 1941 24 Squadron SAAF was formed when No.14 Squadron SAAF and its [[A-22 Maryland|Maryland]] bombers were moved from Kenya to Egypt, and renumbered as No.24 Squadron. The squadron then operated alongside [[No. 39 Squadron RAF]] as a daytime tactical bomber unit carrying out bombing sorties against targets in the [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Mediterranean theatre]]. 24 Squadron was later in the year re-equipped with [[Douglas DB-7|Boston]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/SAAF/24_wwII.html|title=No. 24 Squadron (SAAF): Second World War|accessdate= 23 September 2010}}</ref>

In December 1943, the squadron was relocated to Algeria and re-equipped with the [[B-26 Marauder]]s and in 1944 flew to a new base at Pescara, Italy, before later advancing to Jesi, Italy.<ref name=Martin26>{{cite web|url=http://www.b26.com/page/south_african_air_force_saaf.htm|title=The Martin B26 Marauder in South African Service |author= Best, Roger|accessdate=23 September 2010}}</ref> At the end of the war the squadron used its Marauders as transport aircraft, before moving to Egypt in October 1945 and disbanding on 6 November 1945.<ref name=Martin26/>

The Buccaneer entered SAAF service in 1965. SAAF Buccaneers saw active service during the Border War in [[South-West Africa]], notably at [[Battle of Cassinga|Cassinga]] in 1978. They flew over [[Angola]] and [[Namibia]] in the 1970s and 1980s, and attacked [[SWAPO]] guerrilla camps with rockets and bombs.<ref name=vector>{{cite web|last=Goebel|first=Greg|title=The Blackburn Buccaneer|url=http://www.vectorsite.net/avbucc.html|accessdate=25 July 2011|date=1 December 2009| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110629141138/http://www.vectorsite.net/avbucc.html| archivedate= 29 June 2011 | url-status= usurped}}</ref>

The squadron was disbanded in March 1991 at [[AFB Waterkloof]], [[Pretoria]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2013}}
{{Expand section|details of 24 Sqn role post World War II and Border War|date=September 2011}}

==Aircraft==
{{Gallery
| title  = Aircraft flown by 24 Squadron<br><small>''Note: Aircraft type photographs may not necessarily represent aircraft of the same mark or actual aircraft belonging to the squadron.''</small>
| width  = 160
| height = 120
|File:Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. CM1326.jpg|Martin Maryland Mark II<br>1941
|File:The South African Air Force in Libya, March 1943 TR838.jpg|Boston Mk.III of 24 Sqn<br>1941
|File:Martin Marauder ExCC.jpg|Marauder Mk II<br>1943
|File:SAAF-Lockheed PV1 Ventura-001.jpg|PV1 Ventura<br>1945
|File:Buccaneer 422.jpg|HS Buccaneer S.50<br>1965–1991
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*"The South African Bush War", ''Warplane''. No. 5 (Orbis partwork, c.1985)
*War Zone, [https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38646/this-is-the-jet-that-would-have-carried-south-africas-nuclear-bomb The Story Of The Jet That Would Have Delivered South Africa’s Nuclear Bomb: The British-made Buccaneer strike aircraft was adapted to carry apartheid-era South Africa’s guided nuclear bomb. By Thomas Newdick January 18, 2021]

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{SAAF navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:24 Squadron Saaf}}
[[Category:Squadrons of the South African Air Force]]
[[Category:Disbanded military units and formations in Pretoria]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of South Africa in the Border War|SAAF24]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1991]]