| Accession Number | HOBJ1928 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Hobson, Phillip Oliver |
| Place made | Korea |
| Date made | c December 1950 |
| Conflict |
Korea, 1950-1953 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
A ground crew member of 2 Squadron, South African Air Force (SAAF), stands on a tarmac amongst ...
Description
A ground crew member of 2 Squadron, South African Air Force (SAAF), stands on a tarmac amongst the squadron's F-51D Mustangs. The Mustangs are armed with 5 inch rockets, two napalm bombs and .50 calibre machine guns, and are ready to take off on a mission. 2 Squadron has the nickname "Flying Cheetahs", which they were given in the Second World War (WWII) when they had two cheetahs as mascots. The squadron's emblem on the body of the aircraft, near the cockpit, features a cheetah with wings, the number 2 and the motto 'Onwards and Upwards". The aircraft also carry the SAAF emblem which was adopted in November 1950. It consists of an orange springbok leaping across a white and dark blue roundel. The aircraft numbered 305 was lost to enemy action on 4 March 1951.