60 Squadron
	Motto:	ACCIPIMUS ET DAMUS
	Meaning:	We Receive and We Give

The aircraft are operated by 60 Squadron out of AFB Waterkloof. The sqdn had it's origins in 1 Survey Flight, which was formed in June 1940 and based in Nairobi, Kenya. In November that year, it was redesignated 60 Sqdn and operated Marylands, but was deployed to the Western Desert in the photo-reconnaissance (PR) roll. 60 Sqdn was then used for high altitude PR in the Mediterranean theatre, assigned to fulfil the requirements of the Army Survey Command of the Eight Army. In 1943 the sqdn received its first two Mosquitoes, which were MK II fighters modified for PR work.

60 Sqdn was the first PR Sqdn based in Italy and photographed strategic targets in all parts of German occupied Europe, using Mosquito MK IX's, designed specifically for PR. Many of its delegations were for the American 15th Air Force based at Foggia. The Sqdn conducted a pre-invasion photographic survey of France. A 60 Sqdn Mosquito was one of the first Allied aircraft to encounter the Me 262. The threat paid to the unarmed Mosquitoes by the presence of the Me 262 necessitated that they be escorted by Mustangs or Lightnings. The Squadron recorded the first photographic evidence of Nazi extermination camps. Lt C.H.H. Barry and his navigator, Lt I. McIntyre based at San Severo near Foggia took the photos on 4 April 1944. However this was wrongly credited to the Americans after the War. It appears someone mistook the abbreviation "SAAF" as "USAAF". This was rectified 28 years later by the CIA. (More info: "SAAF at WAR" - S. Bouwer, pg 73)

After WW II, 60 Squadron was equipped with 10 Mosquitoes and based at Bloemspruit. As the result of a fatal crash in 1947 all these aircraft were grounded. The sqdn was disbanded in 1950. Despite being disbanded in 1950, after 2 and 24 sqdns, this sqdn has the highest number of Battle Honours awarded to SAAF units or sqdns. The sqdn was reactivated on 5 July 1986 and equipped with the 707s, with the primary role of in-flight refuelling. The SAAF only publicly announced the Boeings in 1991. Although the sqdn was essentially a fighter sqdn until the re-activation, it's role changed to a transport (passengers & freight) sqdn with a number of specialist tasks like in-flight refuelling, EW etc. This variety of tasks makes it probably one of the most dynamic sqdns in the SAAF today. The sqdn received its colours on 7 October 1994 from the then Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr Ronnie Kasrils.

The Boeing 707s and the SAAF's in flight refuelling capability was one of the star attractions, of the SAAF 75 airshows. The highlight being a very low level fly pass of this large aircraft by Lt. Col. J Swanepoel and his crew, at the AFB Waterkloof airshow. Due to the commitment by the personnel to achieve the highest level of mission readiness - the sqdn achieved another milestone, with the formation flypast over AFB Waterkloof of the entire fleet of five 707 aircraft, on 16 August 1993. The level of training, maintenance and mission- readiness of the sqdn won them international airshow awards and invitations. One such an achievement was the Fairford Royal International Air Tatoo Concours d'Elegance plate for the condition and presentation of one of the Boeing 707s - the sqdn made history to be the first to win two awards in one day. Even more remarkable, the awards was won at the '99  NATO half-century celebration, (SAAF is not a NATO member) judged along with fighters, bombers, helicopters etc!  On 12 July 1996, the reactivated sqdn celebrated its 10th anniversary. The training of pilots, navigators and flight engineers for Boeing 707 aircraft is done at the sqdn and on flight simulators in Dallas, Texas. This ensures that the potential Boeing aircrew get hands-on training on all aspects of flying the aircraft. The Boeing 707-328C tankers form an important part of the current SAAF and the electronic suite makes the aircraft highly capable in a variety of missions.