No. 3 (S.A.) Wing was a South African Air Force commanded formation during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

that served in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. It was formed on 28 August 1941 and initially consisted of

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

and South African Air Force squadrons under South African command, known as No. 261 Medium Bomber Wing but became a fully fledged South African formation on 23 September 1942 when No. 55 Squadron RAF and

No. 223 Squadron RAF No. 223 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. Originally formed as part of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), the Squadron flew in both World Wars. History What later became 223 Squadron was formed as B Flight (soon known as "B Sq ...

were transferred from 3 (S.A.) Wing to No. 232 Wing RAF and it became known as No. 3 (South Africa) Wing. This left 12, 21 and 24 Squadrons SAAF as its assigned units.Brown (1974), pp. 14

History

It was designated as a light bomber wing and its squadrons flew Douglas Boston Mk IIIs and

Martin Marauder The Martin B-26 Marauder is an American twin-engined medium bomber that saw extensive service during World War II. The B-26 was built at two locations: Baltimore, Maryland, and Omaha, Nebraska, by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in t ...

Mk II bombers in North Africa until 1943. The Wing was assigned a company of infantry for ground protection which was initially provided by South African forces and by a Free French company as from end April 1942.Brown (1974) p.135

Organisation and Squadrons

SAAF Boston takeoff Libya June 1942 AWM MED0451

Notes

References

Wings of the South African Air Force Air force units and formations of South Africa Military units and formations established in 1939 Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 {{DEFAULTSORT:No.3 Wing SAAF