South Africa Patch Sqn SAAF South African Air Force b 15 Squadron Super Frelon

SAAF Patch South African Air Force 15 Squadron Patch Badge Super Frelon Tactical Helicopter Border War 1980s Durban Embroidered on twill white compressed stiffener back 92mm by 91mm three and five eighth inches by three and nine sixteenth inches.

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History 1939 – 2013

Motto: – Aquila Petit Ardua – The Eagle Seeks the Heights

15 Squadron was formed in September 1939 at Germiston AFB with three former South African Aiways Junkers Ju-86 airliners adapted for maritime patrols under SAAF Coastal Command and in conjunction with the Royal Navy. The Squadron moved to Wingfield AFB in the Cape where it became A Flight of 32 Squadron. 15 Squadron reformed on 1 June 1941 with Fairey Battles and fought in East Africa. Retuning to Pretoria the Squadron then moved to Aden and then Egypt in early 1942 where 15 Squadron converted to the Blenheim IV. In April 1942 three Blenheims lost their bearings over the desert ran out of fuel and force landed in the desert with only one survivor returning. In July 1942 the Squadron received Blenheim Vs and then Bisleys and in October 1942 took part in shipping strikes on Axis convoys with RAF Beauforts and Beaufighters taking heavy
losses. In January 1943 the Squadron moved to Cyprus for anti-submarine patrols and converted to the Baltimore IIIA IV and V light bombers and carried out reconnaissance and bombing raids against Crete and targets on the Aegean Sea. In August 1944 15 Squadron moved to Italy as part of 253 Wing of the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force in support of 8 Army and disbanded in August 1945.

The squadron was reformed in February 1968 at Swartkop AFB with the new Super Frelon large tactical helicopter. On 19 February 1969 the Squadron formed A Flight at Swartkop and B Flight at Bloemfontein. Towards the end of 1980 A Flight at Swartkop moved to Ysterplaat AFB to form 30 Squadron while B Flight at Bloemspruit relocated to Durban to continue as 15 Squadron. The Super Frelons were retired in 1991 and the squadron re-equipped with Pumas and Alouette IIIs. The Pumas were replaced by the Oryx during 1994 and the Alouettes were replaced by the BK117. 15 Squadron is the only current squadron to have a detached flight. The Squadrons C flight is based at the Port Elizabeth Airport with BK117 helicopters for search and rescue command and control communications ambulance and many other utility tasks.

This patch dates from 1980s