South Africas Flying Cheetahs in Korea Dermot Moore & Peter Bagshawe

South Africas Flying Cheetahs in Korea   

Author: Dermot Moore & Peter Bagshawe   

Publisher: Ashanti Publishing 

Edition: First 1991. Volume 3 in the Soth Africa at War Series 84

ISBN: 1 874800 15 4 

Language: English  

Condition: Good. Clean copy with tight binding. 

Binding: Hardcover with dustjacket  

Pages: 282. Text with images and maps 

Additional Information

Known as the 'Flying Cheetahs', 2 (Transvaal) Squadron was formed at Waterkloof in January 1939 with the Hawker Hartbees. Redesignated as a fighter/bomber unit, the squadron spent the year training, but was renumbered as 12 Squadron in December 1939.

The squadron was reformed in Kenya on 1 October 1940, flying Hurricanes, Fury 1's and Gladiator II's. The squadron moved to Egypt in April 1941 and was re-equipped with Curtiss Tomahawk IIB's. Kittyhawk's were received from May 1942. In 1943 the squadron moved to Sicily and then Italy were they were re-equipped with Spitfires which they flew until the end of the war.

The squadron was reformed in December 1948 at Waterkloof, flying Spitfire MkIX's. The Flying Cheetahs as South Africa's contribution to the Korean War. They served in Korea with distinction from November 1950 to December 1953, first flying the F-51D Mustang and from February 1953, the F-86F Sabre. During this campaign, an impressive 12 067 sorties were flown. 74 of 94 Mustangs, and 4 of 22 Sabres were lost, with 34 pilots killed. 

Please note that we refer the right to close our auctions at any time.

Please refer to all images for condition, as this forms an integral part of the description.

Payment to be processed within 2 days of auction closing 

The item is second hand and sold as such with no warranty or guarantee implied, expressed or given.

SAAF | Korean War | Korea | Johnnie Johnson