The South African Aviation Corps (SAAC) was established during the early days of aviation. It rapidly developed and significantly contributed to the South West Africa Campaign in World War I, and is regarded as the precursor to the South African Air Force.
While the South African Aviation Corps was officially established on 29 January 1915, as announced by the Department of Defence in Pretoria, its origins trace back to December 1913. During that month, Compton Paterson, a British aircraft designer and flying instructor who owned the Paterson Aviation Syndicate School in Kimberley, confirmed that seven of his government trainees had independently flown the Paterson biplane, qualifying them for the FAI Certificate.
When training commenced in August, there were two training aircraft available for ten candidates. However, after one plane was destroyed in a crash that resulted in the pilot's death, only one aircraft remained, significantly hindering the training program. The training occurred at the first South African aerodrome in Alexanderfontein, Kimberley, where the trainees humorously called themselves 'the stick and string flyers club'. They learned to execute right and left turns, adjust the machine's altitude as instructed, and receive training in aircraft repairs and engine maintenance.
The Paterson biplane was a pusher aircraft equipped with a 50 hp Gnome engine, which was the preferred engine type for aircraft produced in Britain and Europe at the time. Its design resembled the Farman, though it did not match it in terms of quality and airworthiness.
Six pilots from the original group were selected for further training in Britain and were appointed as probationary lieutenants in the South African Defence Force. They included Kenneth van der Spuy, Gordon Creed, Marthinus Williams, Basil Turner, Gerard Wallace, and Edwin Emmet. They all participated in preliminary courses at Tempe, Bloemfontein, before being sent to Upavon for training. When van der Spuy passed his final examination on 2 June 1914 and received the Royal Aero Club Certificate, he became South Africa's first qualified military pilot. The others passed a few days later.
At the start of World War I, Mr DH Cutler owned a Curtiss Seaplane and held the unique title of being the world's only one-man coastal command. The British Admiralty requisitioned both him and his aircraft to patrol the South African coast. The seaplane was transported by a warship to East Africa, where Cutler located the German Cruiser 'Koenigberg'. Consequently, it was sunk, and the defence authorities recognized the potential impact an active aviation corps could have in South West Africa (now Namibia).
In November 1914, the Union determined that an aviation corps was essential for a campaign against German South-West Africa, leading to the formation of a new squadron composed of six young graduates from the Royal Flying School who were summoned back from Europe. The SAAC was officially listed as part of the Union Defence Force under Government Notice 130 dated 29 January 1913, and this was formally published on 5 February 1915. The first operational reconnaissance flight of the German South-West Africa Campaign took place on 6 May 1915 using all-steel Farmans.
After a flight in one of the aircraft, Commander in Chief, General Louis Botha, who had previously relied on mounted troops for reconnaissance, stated, "Now I can see for hundreds of miles." The aircraft was also utilized in bombing raids, allowing the South Africans to outmanoeuvre the Germans. This led to the Germans' surrender three months later, following the SAAC's entry into the campaign. The Corps received the South West African battle honour, a distinctive award since battle honours are typically only granted to units.
In a dispatch, General Louis Botha stated: "Without our air unit providing such detailed information about the enemy's positions and movements, we would have faced significant challenges, and the campaign might have been considerably prolonged. I hold the work of the South African Aviation Corps in the highest regard and firmly believe that an air unit should be an essential component of our Union Defence Forces."
The South African Aviation Corps (SAAC) ceased to operate as an independent unit after the conclusion of the South West African campaign in October 1915. However, it was not formally dissolved until 1921. Its members were integrated into the Royal Flying Corps, forming the 26 (South Africa) Squadron. This squadron served in East Africa, providing support to South African forces led by General Jan Smuts.
The primary mission of the squadron was reconnaissance. However, the dense bush and vegetation provided the enemy with nearly complete protection from aerial surveillance and bombing operations. As a result, the squadron could only provide reports on the locations of towns, railways, roads, and rivers. The squadron was disbanded in July 1918, before the end of World War I. The South African Air Force (SAAF) was formed on 1 February 1920 and still carries the honour of being the second oldest air force in the Commonwealth.
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