2 Squadron SAAF 2 Squadron is a squadron in the South African Air Force which was formed in 1940 . The squadron has a long history , having been involved in every single combat action in which the SAAF has taken part . During the Second World War it made a name for itself in the battles for East Africa , before distinguishing itself in North Africa as part of the Desert Air Force , and later in Italy . History . Second World War . During the initial years of the war , 2 Squadron served as part of 1 Bomber Brigade in the East African Campaign and the North African Campaign . After August 1943 , it also saw action in Sicily , Italy and Yugoslavia . Korean War . The squadron was South Africa ' s contribution to the United Nations war effort during the Korean War from November 1950 to December 1953 . 2 Squadron was attached to USAF 18th Fighter - Bomber Wing for the duration of the war . Initially flying the P - 51 Mustang , the squadron re - equipped with the F - 86 Sabre in February 1953 . During the war the squadron flew a total of 12 067 sorties , most being dangerous ground attack missions . 74 of the 94 Mustangs and 4 out of the 22 Sabres were lost , along with 34 pilots . For its actions , the squadron received the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation , United States Presidential Unit Citation , and numerous other awards and decorations . The Commanding Officer of the United States Air Force ' s 18th FBW , to which the squadron was assigned , issued a directive at the end of the war that : South African Border War . The squadron also played a vital role during the South - West Africa / Angola Border War . Till 2 April 2008 the squadron operated the Cheetah C \ D fighter aircraft and was equipped with 28 examples . The squadron flew 1010 hours in 2004 . Current status . Conversion to the new Mirage III occurred in 1963 and the squadron moved to AFB Hoedspruit at the end of 1978 . They continued to fly the Mirages until October 1990 . They later re - equipped with the Atlas Cheetah C and D , but remained ' on the books ' during the hiatus between Mirage and Cheetah , not being officially disbanded at that point . Reconnaissance was also performed using Vinten Vicon 18 Series 601 pod . Regular night flying was performed and the aircrew also performed air to air refueling operations with the Boeing 707 aircraft of 60 Squadron , until these were retired in 2007 . The squadron participates in the annual SANDF force preparation exercises which includes using live weapons . During joint exercises with the German Luftwaffe in 2006 , 40 live V3S " Snake " short range air to air missiles were fired at the Denel Overberg Test Range . Moving to Louis Trichardt ( now AFB Makhado ) in January 1993 , 2 Squadron became the sole front line combat jet squadron in the SAAF . The last of the Cheetahs were retired on 2 April 2008 , later that month the first new JAS 39 Gripen arrived . The SAAF accepted its first Gripen D in April 2008 and the final two Gripen D aircraft arrived in South Africa in July 2009 . The first two Gripen Cs arrived on 11 February 2010 with deliveries ongoing as at October 2011 . The squadron operates all the SAAF ' s Gripens except for the first Gripen D , which is assigned to the Test Flight and Development Centre at AFB Overberg .