Although 17 Squadron was the first dedicated helicopter squadron in the SAAF it was not the first squadron to operate helicopters. In the late 1940's 12 Squadron was converted to Ansons, specially equipped to spray DDT. The squadron moved to Mtubatuba, where they commenced an intensive campaign to eradicate Tsetse Fly, from Northern Natal and Zululand. In 1948, the first of three Sikorsky S-51 helicopters was purchased to spray the more inaccessible areas, where the Ansons could not operate. 12 Squadron thus became the first Squadron to operate helicopters and the S-51 proved to be very successful in the spraying role. The S-51 however, had a very critical C of G movement, was top heavy and particularly prone to severe ground resonance. This led to all three S-51's being badly damaged at one time or another when the aircraft took over control from the pilot. The SAAF realised that the helicopter had a major role to play in South African military aviation and in 1956 Major Geoff Tatham was dispatched to the Sikorsky factory in the USA to do a conversion onto the Sikorsky S-55. Within a month he returned to South Africa with the first S-55. By August 1956 the first two S-55s had been flight-tested at AFS Ysterplaat and a helicopter Flight, with these two helicopters plus the remaining S-51, formed at AFS Langebaanweg, under the command of Major Tatham. The primary function of this Flight was air/sea rescue duties but it soon became apparent that there was a diversity of tasks for which the aircraft was particularly suited. The training of aircrew members for this Flight was therefore planned to include such tasks as flying and operating in mountainous terrain, army co-operation, casualty evacuation and rendering assistance to the Forestry Department in the control of forest and mountain fires. On 1 December 1957 the Flight was given squadron status and became No. 17 Squadron. The squadron was comprised of the remaining S-51 and three S-55 helicopters. Three years later, having proven the helicopter's ability to adapt to many roles, 17 Squadron moved to AFB Ysterplaat where in December 1960 the first two Alouette II's arrived. Only months after the arrival of the eight Alouette II's it became apparent that the natural successor would be the Alouette III. The first of an initial consignment of 33 Alouette III arrived in South Africa in 1962. During that same year 17 Squadron split into 3 Flights, A Flight at AFB Swartkop, B Flight at AFB Bloemspruit and C Flight and the squadron headquarters at AFB Ysterplaat. The Headquarter had the primary role of helicopter training but this was often delegated to C Flight. In 1968 17 Squadron consolidated at AFB Swartkop, and B and C Flights gave birth to 16 Squadron, in Durban, and Helicopter Conversion Unit (HCU) in Cape Town. (HCU was, much later, to become the present day 87 Helicopter Flying School) The Allouette II fleet remained in the Cape and was applied in the training role by HCU. 17 Squadron now became the major role player in Alouette III operations with helicopters deployed in South West Africa and Rhodesia. These helicopters were initially deployed under the colours of the South African Police and carried SAP badges on the airframes. Although 17 Squadron carried the brunt of later Alouette III border operations, air and ground crews were utilised from all the Alouette III squadrons. 17 Squadron played a major role in the development of helicopter tactics, operational conversion courses, Standard Operating Procedures and improved Alouette weapons and avionics systems. In 1992 19 Squadron was re-located to AFB Louis Trichardt with Oryx helicopters. To maintain a medium helicopter capability in Pretoria, Puma helicopters were added to the 17 Squadron livery. In 1993 the phasing out of the Pumas in the SAAF began and they were replaced with the Oryx. Although the end of hostilities in South West Africa brought about major rationalisation of the SAAF, 17 Squadron continues to operate Alouette III and Oryx helicopters. Today the helicopters of 17 Squadron can be seen throughout the sub-continent of Africa, wherever South Africa has committed itself to humanitarian or Peace Support Operations. The Alouette III is destined to be replaced by the Augusta 109 by 2004.