1 Squadron, South African Air Force. Formed in February 1920 and nicknamed "The Billy Boys", after the cry of "Jou Bielie!" over the radio after a successful combat in the Western Desert. It flew SE5s, DH9s and Hawker Furys early on, Gloster Gladiators, Hurricanes and Spitfires in the Second World War, and Vampires, Sabre Mk 6s, Impala Mk Is and finally Mirage F1AZs afterwards. It served in the East African campaign of 1940-41, the Western Desert in 1941-43, Sicily and Italy in 1943-45, and over South West Africa and Angola. Disbanded at AFB Hoedspruit on 25 November 1997 when the Mirage F1AZ was retired.

The Rhodesian Air Force squadron of the same number is a separate unit and has its own record, OrgEntityID 6768.

CORRECTED 25 September 2026. This entity previously carried Branch "Rhodesian" and a description asserting it was Rhodesian Air Force No. 1 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.

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