South Africa Patch Sqn SAAF South African Air Force b 42 Squadron 70s Cessna

SAAF Patch South African Air Force 42 Squadron Patch Badge Border War Cessna Bosbok Early 1970s Embroidered on twill cream paper back 120mm by 80mm four and three quarter by three and one eighth inches.

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History 1945 – 2000

Motto: – Per Spicimus – We survey

42 Air Observation Post AOP Flight was activated on 23 January 1945 at Bari Italy equipped with Auster aircraft tasked with artillery spotting duties and was the only army aviation unit flying for South African forces during World War II. The Flight known as Thompsons Flying Taxi Service after its first commander Major Peter Thompson flew from forward operating locations moving with the advance through northern Italy.

The Flight with their aircraft relocated to the South African Artillery headquarters at Potchefstroom South Africa after the war. The Flight was transferred to the South African Air Force in 1950 but in 1953 it reverted back to the Army.  In May 1962 the Austers were replaced by Cessna 185 aircraft.

In 1971 the Flight transferred from the Army to SAAF as 42 Squadron SAAF continuing its light transport liaison and artillery spotting. Bosbok aircraft were added to the fleet in 1974 and later a number of Kudu aircraft were received. The Kudu was retired in 1991 and the Bosbok in 1992. In the last few months of service of the Bosbok the Squadron formed the Spikes formation display team to showcase the performance qualities of the aircraft.

The squadron moved to Swartkop AFB in December 1992 with its Cessna 185. A single Pilatus PC-6, formerly of the Bophuthatswana Defence Force joined the Squadron in 1994. 42 Squadron relocated to Waterkloof AFB in early 2000 and disbanded later in that year.

This patch dates from the early 1970s