1 Squadron of the South African Airforce flew Harvards until moving to AFB Waterkloof in June 1947 with their new Spitfire MkIXe’s. These were replaced with Vampires in 1950 and Sabre Mk6’s in September 1956. The squadron moved to AFB Pietersburg in 1967, but returned to AFB Waterkloof in late 1975.

The Squadron re-equipped with the Mirage F1AZ’s in 1976. The squadron moved to the new AFB Hoedspruit in January 1981. On 25 November 1997 the F1AZ’s were retired and the squadron stood down.