Alternating between strafing missions, bomber-escort duties and fighter sweeps, No. 2 Squadron claimed many victories - and mourned many of its own dead - during the bitter 1942 battles. During one mission on November 11,1942, it wiped out nearly a whole Stuka staffel (squadron) for the loss of two aircraft. The end of the year found No. 2 Squadron beginning to specialize in fighter-bomber duties and when the war ended in Africa in 1943 it -moved to Sicily and then Italy, re-equipping with four-cannon Spitfire VCs for ground-attack operations, and later, Spitfire lXs. The squadron spent the rest of the war in attacking ground targets (its score for air victories stood at a total of 108 by the time hostilities ended in Europe) and was on stand-by to serve in the Far East when Japan surrendered, bringing an end to World War II. Like many other fine SAAF units, No. 2 Squadron was then disbanded, but was re-formed at Waterkloof Air Station on December 1,1948, flying Spitfire Xe's with O.C. Capt. Keith Kuhlmann. When the Korean War broke out South Africa pledged to contribute a fighter squadron to the Allied cause, and No. 2 Squadron was selected. It served in Korea from November 1950 to December 1953, first flying the superb but obsolescent F-51D Mustang and later (from February 1953) the stunning new North American F-86F-3ONA Sabre. On its return to South Africa the squadron converted to Vampire F.B. Mk. 82's, and in 1956 to Sabre 6s, which it flew till receiving Dassault Mirage Ills in 1963 for fighter-recce and fighter-bomber duties.

2 Squadron regularly deployed to the Border area and flew recce-, intercept and fighter-bomber missions against enemy targets. The Squadron was synonym with AFB Hoedspruit and the Mirage III for a number of years. Flying through the vast skies just as swiftly and precisely as the Squadron's land-based namesake - the Cheetah. Efforts of the Sqdn let to the exclusive fast jet pilot community within the SAAF. This community is known as the "Vlammies" due to the flame of the afterburner - which is a prominent feature of the Mirage III. The sqdn is also actively involved with nature conservation and contributed to a large extend in the conservation and research of the Cheetah - the fastest land animal on earth. In the late 80s the Mirages were upgraded to Cheetah standard and the sqdn's aircraft phased out and retired. As 2 Sqdn effectively lost their operational aircraft, the sqdn was decommissioned in mid 1990 - but reformed at their new home at AFB Louis Trichardt during December 1992. All Cheetah D aircraft of the disbanded 89 Combat FS were transferred to 2 Sqdn. The Cheetah Ds, although part of 2 Sqdn is a separate component within 2 Sqdn and viewed unofficially as the "Cheetah Training Flight". At the time the "training flight" was responsible for all fast jet operational training, even to types such as the Mirage F1AZ, then still in service. It is estimated the first Cheetah Cs arrived at 2 Sqdn during January 1993 and the last example of the 38 Cheetah Cs were handed over to Lt Col Cobus Toerien, then OC of 2Sqdn, during March 1995. The Sqdn's efforts during the SAAF 75 celebrations, with the very professional air-air displays were a huge PRO success for the SAAF, to make the Air Force, the true "Pride of the Nation." A large contributing factor was "Spotty" - a Cheetah C in an alternative cheetah colour scheme. Today, 2 Squadron fly the Cheetah C and upgraded Cheetah D - the Gripen will start arriving by mid-2007. It is the only supersonic Squadron in the Southern African region! 

• Info from Aircraft of the SAAF, H. Potgieter, W. Steenkamp
• Additional A. Dyason.