Air Force Base Swartkop

Air Force Base Swartkop (ICAO: FASK)[1] is South Africa's oldest air force base and houses the South African Air Force Museum. It is managed as part of AFB Waterkloof[2] and houses one of the three branches of the South African Air Force Museum. The name of the air force base, Swartkop means Black hill in Afrikaans.

Air Force Base Swartkop
Air Force Museum entrance featuring the welcome sign and air traffic control tower
Museum open day at AFB Swartkop
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OperatorSouth African Air Force
LocationCenturion, Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa
Elevation AMSL4,780 ft / 1,457 m
Coordinates25°48′25″S 28°09′52″E
Map
FASK
Location in Gauteng Province
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
02/20 6,520 1,987 Asphalt
06/24 6,589 2,008 Grass

AFB Swartkop is located in the town Centurion (previously Verwoerdburg) in the Gauteng Province of South Africa, between Pretoria and Midrand (Johannesburg), which is a part of the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.

History

Air Force Station (AFS) Zwartkop was established in April 1921 after a private farm named Zwartkop was acquired by the Government in 1920. The Dutch spelling of Zwartkop was retained for the Air Force Station that was subsequently established there. On 1 April 1949, the Dutch spelling was dropped in favour of the Afrikaans spelling and resulted in Air Force Station Swartkop. The Air Force Station was upgraded to an Air Force Base on 1 February 1968.[3] The name of the base reverted to the original "Zwartkop" in 2012.

The SAAF claims Swartkop is the second oldest air station in the world and the oldest operational air station in the world.[4] Over the years many distinguished Squadrons have been based at Swartkop. This includes 26 Squadron SAAF which was formed there on 24 August 1942.[5]

The Chief of the South African Air Force opened the relocated South African Air Force Museum at AFB Swartkop in 1993.[6] The Air Force Base reverted to Air Force Station status in 1999. This decision was made by the South African Air Force to vacate the base and leave behind the South African Air Force Museum located there and to keep the Airfield as an extension of Air Force Base Waterkloof. The SAAF Museum Historic Flight has also moved to the airfield.

As of December 2013 the South African Air Force still hasn't vacated all operational units on the base. The South African Air Force Museum currently occupies the northern side of the base while 17 Squadron is housed at the southern side of the base.[3]

South African Air Force Memorial
The SAAF Memorial at Swartkop, Pretoria

The South African Air Force Memorial is located at Swartkop. It contains a roll of honour of SAAF personnel who have been killed on duty as well as a memorial to personnel of all nations that died during the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in South Africa.

See also

References
  1. "World Aeronautical Database". Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  2. "AFB Waterkloof". South African Air Force. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  3. "The Airforce - Bases - Zwartkop". Saairforce.co.za. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  4. "SAAF online news archive 2005". South African Air Force. Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  5. "26 Squadron SAAF (WW2) Unofficial Website".
  6. "History of the South African Air Force". South African Air Force. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
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