was formed. This formation included the South African Aviation Corps (SAAC), which was formed as part of the Active Citizen Force (ACF). In April 1914, six pupils (with the probationary ranks of lieutenant in the ACF) were sent to England to undergo further training. Five of them eventually qualified. When World War I broke out in August 1914, these pilots were granted permission to join the newly formed Royal Flying Corps (RFC). The number of South Africans in the RFC eventually reached approximately 3,000, with 260 active-duty fatalities. These pilots took part in aerial reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions over France during the war. In 1921 the SAAF bought a site east of Roberts Height (later Voortrekkerhoogte and now Thaba Tshwane), near Pretoria. Here the first aerodrome for the SAAF was established and was named Zwartkops. The SAAF is, next to the Royal Air Force (RAF), the world's second oldest air force. The first operation of the South African Air Force was in 1922, when it helped to crush the Rand Revolt, an armed uprising by white mineworkers. The SAAF bombed targets around Johannesburg and lost some aircraft to ground fire. Col. Sir Pierre van Ryneveld was shot down, but he survived. From 1966 to 1989, the SAAF was committed to the Border War, which was fought in northern South West Africa and surrounding states. References: • Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds) (1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v. 1. • Aircraft.co.za, South African Air Force established, from AIRCRAFT, [online], Available at aircraft.co.za [Accessed: 25 January 2009]. Last updated: 16-Jan-2014. Reference: http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/south-african-air-force-established
SADF in Angola The Battle of Cassinga: Mr Jim Harwood South African Military History Society: Cape Town Branch: Newsletter No 461 - February 2018 Our speaker on 18 January 2018 was Mr Jim Harwood, whose topic was the SADF attack on Cassinga on 4 May 1978. Cassinga was a mining town in Angola some 260 km north of the then South West African border. Our speaker was, at the time, a Second Lieutenant commanding a platoon in 1 Parachute Battalion and took part in the attack in that capacity. He introduced his talk by explaining that SWAPO claimed that Cassinga was a refugee camp for 600-700 refugees whereas the SADF believed it was attacking a PLAN headquarters and logistics base. Mr. Harwood pointed out that the people at the “refugee camp” were able to pin down the SADF for about five hours using anti-aircraft weapons and other weapons. Our speaker said that he had always believed that his wife was the first person outside the SADF personnel to learn of the attack on Cassinga. She had heard the news from a friend who had attended an Editor’s briefing which had been told that the SA forces had invaded Angola that morning. However, both Col Breytenbach and Maj Gen Phillip Pretorius had made similar claims. The secret was well-kept and certainly surprised SWAPO – and South Africa. He then briefly discussed the UN Resolution 435. 86