South Africa Patch Sqn SAAF South African Air Force b 41 Squadron Pilot

SAAF Patch South African Air Force 41 Squadron Pilot Patch Badge Cessna 208 Caravans 1990s Embroidered on twill white compressed stiffener back 66mm by 96mm two and five eighth inches by three and thirteen sixteenth inches.

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History 1942 – 1992

Motto: – Detegimus Hostes – We Find the Enemy

41 Squadron was formed at Waterkloof AFB on 16 October 1940 equipped with the Hawker Hartbees aircraft for army
co-operation and deployed to in Abyssinia East Africa at the end of October 1940. On 1 September 1941 the Squadron added a number of Mohawks to the fleet kept together as 41 Squadron Fighter Detachment which was later transferred to 3
Squadron. 41 Squadron remained in Abyssinia when the rest of the South African fighting forces moved into the Western Desert in early 1942 and converted to Hurricanes Mk 1s in mid-1942.

In April 1943 the Squadron moved from Kenya to Egypt and re-equipped with Hurricane Mk IIBs. The squadron was responsible for the air defense of central and eastern Egypt and and convoy patrols flying from various North African bases. The only offensive operation was a single fighter sweep over Crete on 23 July 1943. In February 1944 the squadron received Spitfire Mk.IXs to supplement the Hurricanes and to permit high-altitude interceptions. All of the Hurricanes were replaced with Spitfire Mk VCs in April 1944. By mid-April 1944 the Squadron was made responsible for the air protection of Palestine and moved to Palestine in August 1944. 41 Squadron was disbanded on 30 November 1944.

41 squadron was reformed in January 1963 at Grand Central Aerodrome as part of the Active Citizen Force with Austers for Army Co-operation. Cessna 185s joined the Austers which were finally relinquished in October 1968 and in May 1973 the Squadron moved to Swartkop AFB and was transferred back from army control to the SAAF. In February 1974 the Squadron reequipped with AM.3 Bosbok’s and relocated to Lanseria Airport. AL-60 Kudu aircraft were added to the inventory in July 1976 the. The Squadron moved to Waterkloof AFB and was re-equipped with Cessna 208 Caravans in 1988 for light transport and battlefield air support duties. In 1996 Beechcraft King Airs were acquired from 21 and 35 Squadrons and a Pilatus PC-12 was added in July 1997.

This patch dates from the 1990s