44 Squadron SAAF

44 Squadron
DC-4 Skymaster as previously flown by 44 Sqn.
Active	12 March 1944
Country	South Africa
Branch	South African Air Force
Role	Light Transport
Current Base	AFB Waterkloof
Motto(s)	Prosumus We are useful
Equipment	CASA C.212-200/-300, CASA CN-235, Cessna 185
Insignia
Squadron Crest

44 Squadron SAAF is a squadron of the South African Air Force. It is currently a light transport squadron.

• First formed: 12 March 1944 (at RAF Cairo West airfield, Egypt). The squadron flew Dakota DC3's as part of No. 216 Group RAF of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces in May 1945^[1]
• Historic aircraft flown: Avro Anson, Dakota, Douglas DC-4, C-47TP
• Made a huge contribution during the border war, where members of 44 Squadron which was based at Air Force Base Swartkop in Pretoria fulfilled their duties at Air Force Base Ondangwa in South West Africa by flying rum-runs to border bases, transporting equipment, troops, visitors, paratrooping, flying patrols at night and many more. The Squadron at Ondangwa also flew the ambulance Dakota and the 20mm gunship named 'Dragon".
• 44 Squadron at Air Force Base Swartkop mainly flew three aircraft, DC4 Skymaster, DC3 Dakota and Viscount.

Dakota gunship drawn on the wall at the sleeping quarters at AFB Ondangwa by sergeant George Avis.

See also

• No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF

References

South African Air Force
Leadership	Chiefs of the Air Force Sergeants Major of the Air Force
Active squadrons	2 15 16 17 19 21 22 28 35 41 44
Training and development units	68 Air School 80 Air Navigation School 85 Combat Flying School 87 Helicopter Flying School Central Flying School Test Flight and Development Centre South African Air Force College
Formation aerobatic teams	Silver Falcons
Territorial reserve squadrons	101 102 104 105 106 107 108 110 111
Disbanded air and training squadrons	1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 18 20 23 24 25 26 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 40 42 43 50 60 103 109 112 114 86 Multi-Engine Flying School 88 Maritime Training School 89 Combat Flying School
Disbanded air defence squadrons	120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129
WW2 Wings of the SAAF	2 3 5 7 21 24 25
Bases	AFB Bloemspruit AFB Durban AFB Hoedspruit AFB Langebaanweg AFB Makhado AFB Overberg AFB Swartkop AFB Waterkloof AFB Ysterplaat AFS Port Elizabeth
List of training areas of the South African Air Force	Roodewaal Bombing Range Ditholo Training Area TAB Upington Vastrap Weapons Area
Equipment	List of current and historical SAAF aircraft List of weapon systems of the South African Air Force
History	History of the South African Air Force List of obsolete weapon systems of the South African Air Force South African Air Force Memorial South African Air Force Museum Military history of South Africa SAAF squadron identification codes
Official website: www.af.mil.za