South African Aviation Corps
 

Hello, I have a SAAC cap badge which I have put onto my album. I have not been able to find out very much about the Corps. I would be grateful if anyone could give me any information. My badge is of a two part construction, it is the first one that I have ever seen so I would welcome any comments.

Best Wishes David Moore

Hi David, I can't find the picture. I would be keen to see it. Regards Andrew

can any one post a pic of the cloth
` South African flying corps ` shoulder title please /many thanks Michael.

David, it was a fairly short-lived corps, forerunner of the present
SA Air Force.

Shortly after the Union Defence Forces were established in 1912/13,
the government decided to add a flying corps. A small group of volunteers
was recruited, trained at a civilian flying school, and then sent to England
in 1914, for advanced training with the Royal Flying Corps.

WWI broke out while they were still there, and they got in some combat experience
in France before returing to SA at the end of the year.

The SA Aviation Corps was formally established as an Active Citizen Force unit
on 29 January 1915. It was deployed in the German SW Africa campaign,
from May 1915, flying Henri-Farman biplanes.

After the campaign ended, in July 1915, the members of the SAAC transferred
to the RFC, where they formed 26 Squadron in October 1915. For practical purposes,
that was the end of the SAAC, but it continued to exist on paper.

Shortly after the war ended, the government decided to establish a
Permanent Force air branch, named the SA Air Force, and this was duly
done in 1921 (though the official date is 1 February 1920). The SAAC
was then disbanded, on 30 September 1921.

SAAC
 

Hello, sorry I didn't reply earlier, just got in from work. I enclose the pictures as requested.

Best Wishes Dave Moore

Thank you, it is a nice example. Mine is in gilt. Regards Andrew

SAAC cap badges
 

Hello Andrew, thanks for your reply. What is the significance of the bronze and gilt versions? How common is this badge; I have never seen one before in Britain?

Best wishes Dave Moore

Nemo,
This is what I have- the cloth shoulder , the metal shoulder title and a silver plated cap badge.
Regards
Mike

Very, very nice. Regards Andrew

SA aviator
 

Hello, fantastic badges. If anyone is interested we have a WW1 SA grave in the church yard in the small town where I work. I found it about 18 months ago, but was not able to locate it yesterday. The pilot was killed in a training accident In Norfolk, I would imagine that this happened at what is now RAF Marham or the redundant RAF West Raynham (both of which my father served on). I will search again next week and get his name.

Best wishes Dave Moore. Thanks again for all the information received so far.

Attachment 46198

Attachment 46201

Attachment 46202

A group photograph of the Corps in my collection.

Fascinating pictures, are the maternity jackets the same as those worn by the RFC? I can't quite make it out, but have all ranks got a pagri badge?

Dave Moore

Hope this thread is still active. I am writing a book about the SAAC and am looking for a good quality picture of their badges. Can anybody help.

Hi Schutztruppe, are you just covering the GSWA campaign or also the East African and Western Front when they became 26 Squadron?

Brian

Hi, I have a cap badge. Send me your email address, and I will send you a picture. Regards Andrew