🇿🇦✈️ 60 SQUADRON AFTER 1994 — FROM WARFIGHTING TO STRATEGIC SUPPORT When South Africa entered the post-apartheid era, 60 Squadron suddenly found itself operating in a completely different strategic environment. The enemy had changed and so had the mission. Its Boeing 707s shifted increasingly toward long-range transport, humanitarian missions, peace-support operations, search and rescue, and aerial refuelling, while still retaining specialised electronic-intelligence capabilities. (South African Air Force) In 1994, the squadron was awarded its Colours, and its aircraft became something of a flying ambassador for the new South Africa carrying people, equipment and assistance across Africa and beyond. It even supported missions to places such as Rwanda, the DRC and Haiti, while making international visits to countries including Russia, Brazil and the UK. (South African Air Force) The 707s also remained useful to the SAAF’s combat force. In 2006, one was sent to Sweden to participate in Gripen aerial-refuelling trials. (South African Air Force) But the old Boeing giants were ageing, and money was getting tight. By the mid-2000s, only a small number remained operational, increasingly being used for transport rather than their original tanker/EW roles. They supported SANDF deployments in Burundi, Sudan and the DRC. (South African Air Force) Then came 10 July 2007. 60 Squadron flew its final operational Boeing 707 mission to Bujumbura, Kinshasa and Kindu. The aircraft were gone. The squadron, however, wasn’t officially dead. It entered a strange period of limbo, originally expected to receive the Airbus A400M. When South Africa cancelled that programme in 2009, 60 Squadron remained part of the SAAF structure without its legendary heavy aircraft. (South African Air Force) From reconnaissance over Nazi-occupied Europe… to tanking SAAF fighters… to carrying peacekeepers and humanitarian aid across Africa 60 Squadron’s history is basically a story of adaptation. 🇿🇦✈️ #SANDF #SAAF #southafricatiktok🇿🇦 #mzansitiktok🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 #dontactical - @don_selassi