ORIGINAL SOUTH AFRICAN AVIATION CORPS CAP BADGE IN SOUTH AFRICA

 ORIGINAL cap badge with lugs intact.Very rare badge The South African Aviation Corps was formally gazetted as part of the U.D.F. in Government Notice No 130 dated 29 January 1915 and published in the Government Gazette of 5 February 1915. The ground staff for the GSWA campaign had been recruited in South Africa. Workshops, two steel hangers and an aerodrome had been built at Walvis Bay. The unit was commanded by Major G.P. Wallace and it consisted of 17 officers and 150 men. They were supplied with steel-framed Henri Farman aircraft. Three flying officers had been attached from the Royal Naval Air Service and two BE2C aircraft had accompanied them. Air operations commenced from 6 May 1915 and the Farmans were initially used for reconnaissance tasks. They were later also used as bombers with fitted racks. They first saw action at Karabib and operations later moved to Omaruru, Kalkveld, Otavi and Otjiwarongo. When the unit had to move northwards, advance working groups were required to prepare landing grounds in the thick bush that was found in the Northern areas of operations. After the German surrender in GSWA on 9 July 1915, personnel were placed at the disposal of the Royal Flying Corps. LOCAL BUYER R110 POSTNET OT FEDEX OVERSEAS BIDDER DHL R480 OR SAPO(RISKY)R220