The squadron was formed on 18 September 1939 as a Coastal Command squadron based at
Walvis Bay (
station), equipped with three ex-
South African Airways Junkers Ju 86Z aircraft in the role of a maritime patrol squadron. However, it was short-lived, and by December of that year it had become B Flight of 32 Squadron. The squadron was re-formed at
Addis Ababa on 1 May 1941, flying eight Ju-86Z taken over from
12 Squadron plus two
Martin Marylands. It would be 23 years before the squadron was once again re-formed, this time at
AFB Ysterplaat on 1 February 1968, and equipped with the
Aérospatiale Alouette III. A year later it moved to
AFB Durban, though did not stay long, and finally moved to
AFB Bloemspruit during 1972. The squadron's A Flight was transferred to AFS Port Elizabeth in 1973, with its B Flight moving first to
AFB Ysterplaat, and then to AFS Port Elizabeth in 1980 to join A Flight. In 1986, the squadron received an additional type, the
Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma. Throughout this period the squadron played a vital role in the
South-West Africa/
Angola Border War, and following the cessation of hostilities was disbanded in October 1990. Attack Helicopter over
FIB base in Sake 2014 The latest chapter in 16 Squadron's history began on 28 October 1999 when it was reformed at AFB Bloemspruit and equipped with the new
Denel Rooivalk attack helicopter, receiving all 12 ordered. Due to the complexities of integrating a new type and the creation and modification of tactics for the use of the SAAF's first attack helicopter, the squadron was only expected to reach complete operational readiness in 2008. It is however still a functioning squadron, and regularly carries out joint exercises with the
South African Army and other elements of the Air Force. The
Rooivalk saw its first combat in support of the
United Nations Force Intervention Brigade in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo during 2013. ==Previous aircraft operated==