1-300 South African 1951-1958 Roundels Decals

These 1-300 South African 1951–1958 Roundel decals reproduce the distinctive early postwar SAAF marking featuring a springbok within the national roundel. The springbok gave South African aircraft a uniquely recognizable identity during the Korean War and early Cold War years.

Decal Information

The sheet includes South African 1951-1958 Roundels markings suitable for use on 1-300 scale aircraft miniatures.

They are printed on clear-background waterslide decal paper. They need to be individually cut out. Apply over a properly prepared and gloss-coated model surface using normal waterslide-decal techniques.

Key Historical Details

Region / Nation: African Bush Wars Service: Military Aviation Time Period: Period Appropriate to the Marking Primary Marking: National Aircraft Roundels Scale: 1-300 Application: Historically appropriate aircraft and aviation subjects

Historical Information

The South African Air Force had previously used RAF-style roundels with an orange center. Around the beginning of the 1950s, the SAAF introduced the springbok roundel, partly to give South African aircraft a more distinctive national identity among other Commonwealth air forces.

The marking became particularly associated with No. 2 Squadron SAAF during the Korean War, where South African pilots flew alongside other United Nations air forces. It continued in service through the 1950s before being replaced by the later castle-and-springbok design.

Aircraft that could be seen with this style included the North American Mustang, Canadair Sabre, de Havilland Vampire, Harvard/T-6, Avro Shackleton, and early Canberra aircraft, along with transports and trainers.

The exact introduction date of the springbok marking is sometimes described differently in reference sources, but it is strongly associated with SAAF service in the early 1950s and remained in use until the castle-and-springbok insignia replaced it in the late 1950s.