http://ipmssa.inext.co.za/KB/Aircraf...background.htm

To supplement the Ju52s in use with the South African Airways(SAA) in the late 1930s an initial batch of six Junkers Ju86Z1s were ordered from Germany.

On 22 October 1939 searches began for the German pocket battle ship, "Graf Spee", in conjunction with HMS Shropshire, and HMS Sussex. Extra Ju86s were sent to 13 Sqdn on 15 November 1939 to help out, but to no avail. The most famous action at this period was the interception of the German liner "Watussi" by a Ju86 of 15 Sqdn flown by Captain H.Q. Boshoff and 2nd Lt T. Uys on 2 December 1939. Captain Stamer, master of the vessel, promptly scuttled his vessel to prevent it falling into Allied hands.


It is ironic that the first attack of the war, made by a SAAF aircraft, was a German-designed and built aircraft. It was with the SAAF that the Ju86 achieved it's most successful operational career.

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