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Squadron 35

35 Squadron, based in Cape Town, South Africa, is the maritime search and rescue squadron of the South African Air Force, and is responsible for patrolling the coastline and territorial waters of South Africa in support of the South African Navy and the Department of the Environment. The tasks of the squadron include maritime search and rescue, shipping reconnaissance, fisheries reconnaissance, pollution monitoring, and co-operative exercises with the South African Navy.

262 Squadron RAf was the forerunner of 35 Squadron and was formed on 29 September 1942, from drafted personnel. This was to form the basis of a South African Catalina squadron operating out of the top end of Durban harbour, in an area known as Congella. However, it was not until 21 February 1943 that the first Catalinas arrived; five days later patrols over the Indian Ocean commenced.

Other aircraft soon followed, enabling the squadron to extend it's patrol area around the Cape of Good Hope. In October, operations began from Langebaan to patrol the Atlantic coast.

Due to the increasing amount of shipping around Durban which restrcited flying boat movements, detachments were sent to Langebaan and St Lucia. Langebaan was used by combined RAF and SAAF crews as an operational base for forays against U-boats. St Lucia became the Indian Ocean operational base.

To replace St Lucia, a new base was opened at Lake Umsingazi in November 1994; this was used until 262 Squadron, by now manned almost entirely by SAAF personnel, was trasnferred from the Royal Air Force and re-designated 35 Squadron of the South African Air Force.

In February 1945, the new squadron, under the command of Wing Commander ESS Nash, DFC, AFC, consisted of 462 personnel and 12 Catalina flying boats. Later in April of the same year, three Short S25 Sunderland GR Mk5 aircraft were flown out from England to enhance the squadron's effectiveness. Sunderlands were widely used by Coastal Command during World War II.

From Lake Umsingazi, Sunderlands regularly flew 18-hour patrols; tracking hostile vessels both above and below the water. The main tasks of this newly formed maritime squadron were anti-submarine patrols, coastal reconnaissance, and acting as convoy escorts.

Catalinas were eventually phased out with a total of 16 Sunderlands being delivered during 1945 (at a cost of just over 200 pounds per aircraft). When the war ended, five Sunderlands from Lake Umsingazi were used to ferry repatriated troops back to the Union. Three flights a week were made to Fayid until the task had been completed. They transported 1786 troops and 655 tons of equipment.

Five years earlier, in April 1952, three RAF Shackleton MR2s, from 42 Squadron, had visited South Africa. As a result of this visit a decision was taken to purchase eight AV Roe (Avro) Shackleton MR3s to re-equip the squadron. This was to be the start of an era that spanned 27 years. The shackleton was considered to be the most modern and sophisticated anti-submarine platform of it's time.

In February 1957, Cmdt M.J. Uys, Commanding Officer of 35 Squadron, visited AV Roe's Woodford aerodrome as part of a delegation to accept the first two Avro Shackletons into the South African Air Force. Cmdt Uys, a veteran of World War II and Korea, was the first South African pilot to fly the new aircraft.

Director and General Manager of AV Roe, Mr. J.A.R. Kay, handed over the two Shackleton Mk IIIs in the presence of South African High Commissioner, Mr. W.D. van Schalkwyk, and Cmdt Uys. Over from South Africa, 61 members of the squadron spent six months at Woodford undergoing a comprehensive conversion course on the new aircraft.

In 1958, one of the longest non-stop Shackelton flights was undertaken. For many hours the mighty engineds roared steadily, as the first border patrol around the Union passed over the fascinating African panorama; much of it untamed, trackless, and deserted. Breakfast over the Caprivi Strip, tea over Angola, and lunch above the Namib Desert.

Ten airmen accompanied by four journalists, under the command of Maj D. Eden, took part in this historic 1900 mile trip. The purpose of the flight was to act as a pathfinder for future border patrols.

It was only shortly after the withdrawal of the Shackleton that the doughty Dakota celebrated 50 years of service. In an effort to retain some of the maritime expertise built up by the squadron over the years, they received in January 1985 four Douglas DC3 Dakotas that had originally been converted for training navigators.

Taking over from the Shackletons, these aircraft would soon be affectionately know as 'Dakletons'. They would carry out some similar tasks although the Dakotas were older than their predecessors. Continuing a proud tradition, these aircraft were to participate in numerous maritime disasters, often in fearsome weather conditions. Many seamen owe their lives to the skills of these 'Dakleton' crews.

With the closing of 25 and 17 Squadrons, on 31 December 1990, 35 Squadron took over the extra responsibility of the air transport role. Air transport operations were carried out using the Dakota and King Air aircraft from the now defunct 25 Squadron.

On 4 March 1991, the Sword of Peace was awarded to AFB Ysterplaat. Col D.W.K. Lynch, the Commanding Officer, officially thanked 35 Squadron for their contribution to this success, whilst expressing his appreciation of the excellent humanitarian work undertaken by the squadron throughout the year.