Other Forces

“Emergency bomber”

In the unique airplane’s mix, included types definitely obsoletes as the Italian Caproni Ca.133 and the British Vickers Vincent, deployed by both the opposing armed forces, Italians to one side, British Empire on the other, during the East African Campaign, 1939-1941, appear also the German-built Junkers Ju 86Z employed by the South African Air Force as “emergency bomber”. They were originally passenger commercial planes purchased, 17 exemplars, by South African Airlines. At the outbreak of the Second World War, for want of anything better, the South African Air Force seized this planes which were transformed in bombers with external bomb racks and defensive guns. The SAAF’s Ju 86Z were initially used for coastal patrols along with the sole Ju 86 K-1 (bomber) and in May 1940 reequipped the No. 12 Squadron SAAF deployed in the East African Campaign against the Italians from June 1940. It flew its first bombing missions on 14 June 1940. As more modern aircraft became available, the SAAF’s Ju 86Zs, returned in South Africa, were passed from some Squadron and last use was with No. 22 Squadron SAAF at Durban, who used it, along with the Avro Anson in the coastal reconnaissance role. The former German-built airliners was phased out in September 1942 replaced by the American-built Lockheed Ventura. Victor Sierra