4 Squadron, South African Air Force. Formed in April 1939, flying Hawker Hartbees, Hawker Furys and Wapitis, and later Hurricanes, Kittyhawks and Spitfires. It fought through the North African and Mediterranean campaigns of 1941-45, including Operation Crusader and El Alamein, and was twice reformed, in 1951-58 and 1961-91, before disbanding at Lanseria in September 1991.
The Rhodesian Air Force squadron of the same number is a separate unit and has its own record, OrgEntityID 6764.
CORRECTED 25 September 2026. This entity previously carried Branch "Rhodesian" and a description asserting it was Rhodesian Air Force No. 4 Squadron, sourced to Geldenhuys, Rhodesian Air Force Operations. That was wrong: every casualty attached here is South African, almost all with Corps "South African Air Force". The Rhodesian description was matched on the bare squadron number, which South Africa and Rhodesia both used, and the force-split of 27 August 2026 then moved the Rhodesians out to their own entity while the Rhodesian label stayed behind on the South Africans.
| Formation | Type | Relationship | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disbanded air and training squadrons | Category | organic | |
| saaf-oob:saaf-disbanded | |||
| Rhodesian Air Force - Squadrons | Category | organic | |
| rsf-oob:rhodesian-air-force | |||
69 on the roll across 2 Force tags — this organisation name is shared by more than one defence force / era.
| # | Last Name | First Name | Initials | Rank | Force | Regiment | Corps | Date of Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21728 | Roelofse | Johannes Jacobus | J J | Lieutenant | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1945-01-04 |
| 21949 | Rowan | Rowland William | R W | Lieutenant | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1944-05-14 |
| 32830 | Scholtz | David Johannes Philippus | D J P | Lieutenant | SADF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1969-03-29 |
| 22925 | Shepheard | Padern Lionel | P L | Lieutenant | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1943-03-27 |
| 23380 | Smit | Daniel Jacobus | D J | Air Mechanic | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1942-03-21 |
| 23473 | Smith | Eric | E | Major | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1942-09-02 |
| 33092 | Steijnberg | Petrus Johannes | P J | Second Lieutenant | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1956-09-08 |
| 24520 | Sutton | Robert Redvers Wreford | R R W | Lieutenant | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1944-04-07 |
| 25151 | Thompson | Wallace Mervyn | W M | Lieutenant | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1944-11-13 |
| 26511 | Van Biljon | Leon | L | Lieutenant | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1942-06-19 |
| 33762 | Viviers | Francois | F | Second Lieutenant | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1956-03-02 |
| 33826 | Weilbach | Andre | A | Lieutenant | SADF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1969-05-03 |
| 28026 | Welgemoed | Frederick | F | Captain | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1947-04-17 |
| 28046 | Welman | Petrus Jacobus | P J | Lieutenant | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1944-08-28 |
| 28164 | Wheeler | William John | W J | Major | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1944-01-23 |
| 28196 | White | Deryck George | D G | Second Lieutenant | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1942-07-20 |
| 28355 | Will | Ian Gordon | I G | Captain | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1944-11-21 |
| 28411 | Williams | Eric | E | Lieutenant | UDF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1944-07-25 |
| 33891 | Winterbottom | Kevin Roy | K R | Second Lieutenant | SADF | 4 Squadron | South African Air Force | 1976-06-09 |