| 1 Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Mirage F1AZ refuelling from a B707 tanker | |
| Active | February 1920 to 25 November 1997[1] |
| Country |   South Africa |
| Branch | South African Air Force |
| Role | Fighter / Attack Squadron |
| Garrison/HQ | AFB Hoedspruit when disbanded. |
| Nickname(s) | The Billy Boys[citation needed] |
| Motto(s) | Prima (First)[1] |
| Insignia | |
| Squadron Badge |  |
| Squadron Identification Code | AX 1939-1945 |
1 Squadron SAAF was an air force squadron of the South African Air Force and was formed at Air Force Station Swartkop in February 1920, equipped with De Havilland DH.9s part of the Imperial Gift donation to South Africa by Britain. On 31 August 1939 the squadron was re-designated as 1 Bomber/Fighter Squadron and this was then changed to 11 (Bomber) Squadron in December 1939. The squadron was resurrected in February 1940 by the renumbering of 6 Squadron, equipped with four Hurricane Mk 1s and six Furies.
1 Squadron saw active service in East Africa in 1940, the Western Desert, Malta, and Sicily, and ended their war service in Italy in 1945. In 1950 the squadron's Spitfires were replaced with Vampires, and these in turn were replaced by Sabre Mk6s in 1956. In 1976 the squadron received Mirage F1AZ attack aircraft and it was disbanded when the F1AZs were retired on 25 November 1997.[1]
- ^ a b c "South African Air Force (Unofficial)". 1 Squadron. Retrieved 4 August 2011.