The Mighty 28 Squadron

Nov 6, 2017
4 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

By Garth Calitz

The esteemed 28 Squadron was established on June 1, 1943. The war diary entry for that day states: “In modest conditions at SAAF Base Depot Almaza, Cairo, Middle East, 28 Squadron is born.” Major A.A.D. McKellar served as the first Officer Commanding, with most personnel being recruited from the 34 and 35 Flight South African Air Force (Maritime Reconnaissance). As the SAAF's inaugural air transport squadron, operating under 216 Group RAF, the squadron was outfitted with 7 Anson, 5 Dakota, and 2 Wellington aircraft.

Avro Anson

Vickers Wellington

Douglas DC3 Dakota

During the Second World War, the squadron aided the Allied forces in North Africa, the islands of the Western Mediterranean, Italy, and France. By April 1944, the squadron was equipped with 30 Dakotas and 14 Ansons, and throughout that year, it logged a total of 35,859 flying hours, transporting 87,029 passengers and over 33.6 million lbs of freight. At the end of the war, in the latter half of 1945 and early 1946, the squadron became an essential part of the renowned "Shuttle Service" from Cairo to Pretoria.

In April 1946, the unit stationed at Swartkop was restructured into a Permanent Force unit, focusing on internal service, occasional international flights, and VIP transport. Between 22 September 1948 and 25 September 1949, two groups from the squadron took part in the Berlin Airlift, completing 2,500 sorties and transporting 8,333 tons. In 1956, the squadron received the first SA Air Force Exceptional Flying Safety Award for maintaining an outstanding safety record over an extended period.

Lockheed C-130 Hercules

In early January 1963, members of 28 Squadron flew the SA Air Force’s new C-130 Hercules aircraft from the USA to Waterkloof, marking the beginning of a new era in transport flying for the SAAF. On August 25, 1967, the squadron received its Colours from General R.C. Hiemstra SSA, SM, the then Commandant General of the South African Defence Force. The squadron’s Colours display its battle honours from operations in the “Mediterranean 1942-1945”, “Sicily 1943”, and “Italy 1943-1945”. In August 1969, the squadron’s air transport capacity, which included 7 C-130B Hercules aircraft, was enhanced with the addition of 9 C-160Z Transall aircraft into service.

Transall C-160

In the 1970s and 1980s, the squadron earned distinction through various SADF operations in Namibia and Southern Angola. During Operations MODULAR, HOOPER, and PACKER, the squadron conducted numerous sorties from Ondangwa and Rundu to Mavinga in Southern Angola, significantly contributing to the SADF's successes. A total of 19 squadron members received Southern Cross Medals for their roles in these operations.

C130 Para drop

Due to mounting pressure on the defense budget, a decision was made to gradually retire the squadron's fleet of C-160Z Transall aircraft.

Transall C-160

This was a distressing experience for all the aircrews operating this “transport aircraft that maneuvered like a fighter”. The squadron's duties, along with those of most other transport squadrons, shifted focus to peacetime activities, emphasizing humanitarian support missions in Southern Africa. For instance, the squadron provided aid following the genocide in Burundi and Rwanda. They also carried out various search and rescue operations and flood relief missions to locations such as Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, Reunion, and Zimbabwe.

Air Supply drop

In recent years, the squadron has participated in numerous humanitarian and charitable activities in Southern Africa, along with various search and rescue operations on both land and sea. During the floods in Mozambique in 2000 and 2001, the squadron conducted numerous support missions to different locations. In one such mission in February 2001, a total of 156,000 lbs of food and other relief supplies were transported from Maputo to Quelimane in northern Mozambique.

Throughout the years, the squadron and its members have genuinely lived up to their motto, "PORTAMUS," meaning "WE CARRY." They have discreetly and without much recognition fulfilled their role in supporting the RSA government and security forces, including transporting the late President Nelson Mandela's remains to his home in the Eastern Cape.

With 62 years of service to the people of the RSA, the squadron can reflect with pride and recognize all the air and ground crews who have selflessly served their squadron with love and dedication.

In September 1997, C-130 No. 407 was sent to Marshalls Aerospace in the United Kingdom for a significant avionics upgrade, aimed at extending the aircraft's service life by an additional 20 years. Two USAF C-130s (provided through an EDA grant), Nos. 408 and 409, also underwent upgrades at Marshalls, bringing the SAAF fleet to a total of nine aircraft. The first of the upgraded aircraft, No. 407, returned to AFB Waterkloof in September 2001, soon followed by Nos. 408 and 409. Denel Aviation completed the upgrades for aircraft 401 and 406, as well as for 402, 403, 404, and 405.

Original cockpit layout

Upgraded "Glass" cockpit

28 Squadron participates in a range of operations and missions supporting African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), and NEPAD initiatives. These missions include:

Operations Fibre and Mistral in Central Africa focused primarily on the re-supply of food and equipment, the rotation of personnel, and maintaining a connection to the soldiers' home country. The missions regularly utilized airfields in Kinshasa, Kindu, and Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Bujumbura in Burundi.

Support of the Comoros General elections.
Support of the Mozambique Elections.
Support to the Madagascar Flood Relief operation.
Transporting government delegations to Walvis Bay in Namibia, Maputo, Mozambique and Maseru in Lesotho for conferences and seminars.
Transporting military members to Kasane in Botswana for Exercise Themba.
Support of Project Taurus, one of them the transportation of liquid oxygen to Ascension Island.
Support in Pemba, Mozambique as part of Operation Copper.
Transporting specialist teams from the SA Navy to Zanzibar as part of Operation Arabela and to Malawi.
Strategic airlift of personnel and equipment to Uganda in support of Operation Ukuwa in Sudan.
Resupplying Special Forces based in Central African Republic as part of Operation Vimbezela.
Withdrawing South African Embassy Personnel out of Cote D’Ivoire after the elections in support of Operation Ikuala as well as flights to Libya and Malta.