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could win the war the following year if born. ars, 30 wood and canvas hangars, 50 000
she mobilised her inventive and mechan- gallons of aero fuel and 20 000 gallons
ical genius to produce sufficient aircraft South Africans had featured strongly in of paint, varnish and dope. A complete
to strike hard at the enemy’s communi- the Royal Flying Corps during World engine shop as well as motor vehicles
cations and deep into his homeland. For War I, with Andrew Beauchamp-Proc- and photographic equipment were also
this an independent Air Staff and Air tor topping the heap with the most kills included.
Ministry were required. amongst all the Empires airmen, 41, and
holder of the VC, MC, DFC and DSO. Sir Pierre was summoned from Cologne
The basic recommendations of the report Amongst his contemporaries was one where he was engaged in the handover of
were: Colonel Helperus Andrias van Ryneveld, surrendered German aircraft to the RAF
who was to play a significant role in the to the Savoy Hotel where Gen Smuts kept
1. An Air Ministry be set up as establishment of our own South African residence and was told “I want you to go
soon as possible Air Force. He was not the most successful out to South Africa and start an air force”
2. An Air Staff to be set up as soon fighter pilot with only 5 kills, and was
as possible known to be cold, ambitious, decisive, Sir Pierre supervised the shipment of
3. The Royal Naval Air Service to authoritarian, took criticism with poor the gift to South Africa which cost £32
be merged with the Royal Flying Corps grace, but was inspirational and that 800, where it was offloaded and railed to
4. That the Air Service keep most rarest of men, a leader of leaders. When Pretoria at a cost of £38 300. It is noted
close contact with the Army and Navy General Smuts decided to start an air that the auditor general made caustic
5. That the Air Staff attach to the force in South Africa, Sir Pierre was the comments about the cost of the railage.
army and navy such units necessary for
military and naval operations. The whole shooting match was transport-
ed to a 23,5 morgen site some 2 miles
The War Cabinet accepted the second east of Roberts Heights which had been
report. purchased to become the SAAF’s first air-
field. This airfield was named Swartkop,
General Smuts had created for himself a and is still active today, in fact some of
mountain of work. Lloyd George passed the Imperial Gift Hangars are amazingly
the proverbial buck immediately back to still in daily use. AFB Swartkop is in fact
Smuts who became chairman of a new the oldest still active military airfield in
Air Organisation Committee. Of the man he chose to make it happen. the world.
more difficult tasks was to persuade the
Admiralty to part with the RNAS, and to Sir Pierre was better known amongst the The South African Air Force was officially
get sufficient production from British in- South African public for an epic flight established on 1 February 1920, a day
dustry. Smuts had seen at that stage that he undertook with Quinton Brand from that is still celebrated each year. Ours is
neither the Navy nor the army were likely England to South Africa in a Vickers thus the second oldest independent air
to win the war, even if they did combine Vimy called the “Silver Queen”. De- force in the world.
their resources. To achieve this, an Aerial spite two crashes, and Smuts having to
Operations Committee was established, authorise two replacement aircraft, they In the intervening years, the South Afri-
later to become the War Priorities Com- succeeded in their endeavours and both can Air Force contributed in outstanding
mittee, again with Smuts as its Chairman. were knighted. fashion to the Allied effort in World War
This committee had the power to deter- II, and during the bush war was arguably
mine all questions of industrial priorities, Having pioneered the concept of air pound for pound the most effective air
independent of the War Cabinet, at the power, and got the Royal Air Force off force on the planet.
time itself an unheard-of situation. the ground (please pardon the pun), it
followed that he would wish to have the It is today more occupied with United
It effectively placed Gen Smuts in charge same happen in his own country. Nations related peace keeping effort in
of Britain’s industry, from the provision of Central Africa, where we have substan-
raw materials, what was to be produced The SAAF got off to a flying start with tial deployments, and humanitarian
as well as the question of manpower. A the Imperial Gift. The Imperial Gift was deployments such as Operation Leechie
unique situation, even by today’s more according to Carel Birkby a personal gift in Mozambique when they had those
liberal standards. from the War Cabinet to Smuts, who tremendous floods. Today’s battles, sadly,
he describes as one of its most forceful are related more to receiving sufficient
With an understanding of the British way members. Officially the gift was for 100 operational funding from government
of doing things that only an objective aircraft, comprising 22 SE 5A’s, 30 Avro rather than anything involving territory.
viewer, viewing from the outside could 504 Trainers, and 48 DH9 bombers. It remains, however, an institution pos-
have, Smuts managed, without detriment These were augmented by gifts of 10 DH sessed of great pride and devotion to duty
to the Army and Navy, to pull all the 4’s from the London Overseas Club and a by all those who serve.
loose ends together and on 1 April 1918, DH 9 and two BE 2 Scouts from the City
the Royal Air Force, the first independent of Birmingham. Apart from the aircraft, -------------0------------
air force to exist anywhere, was officially the gift included steel frames for 20 hang-

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