1717 was one of the first two of Shackletons delivered to the SAAF on 18 August 1957, the other was 1716/J. The aircraft were supposed to painted in alphabethcial order starting with 1716 as J and ending with Q on 1723. However, the squadron commander at the time Commandant M J Uys requested that his machine was given the code O as that was his wartime code letter. 1717/O was retired with the rest of the fleet in 1984 and put on display at the Midmar Dam in Natal and later moved to Stanger, KwaZulu-Natal. Photographer unknown

1723/Q was in the last batch of three Shackletons handed over to the SAAF 26 February 1958. After retirement she was put on display at Vic's Garage on the Golden Highway in Armadale in Johannesburg. Initially in full SAAF colours. After a while the codes, roundels and fin flash were removed as seen here. Then she was turned into a very red Coca-Cola commercial and later a blue and yellow Sasol promotion. Photographer unknown

Other than the RAF, the SAAF was the only other user of the Avro Shackleton. Eight MR 3s were ordered in 1954 with deliveries in 1957 and 1958. Two were lost in accidents; 1718/K in 1963 and 1716/J in 1994. 1722/P or Pelican P, was delivered 26 February 1958. She served with 35 Sqd until retired in 1984. After the loss of 1716, 1722 was refurbished to flying condition with the SAAF Museum Historical Flight at AFB Ysterplaat. She is now on display at the SAAF Museum Ysterplaat. Seen here on approach to Cape Town International with Major Dagg flying. Photographer unknown

Other than the RAF, the SAAF was the only other user of the Avro Shackleton. Eight MR 3s were ordered in 1954 with deliveries in 1957 and 1958. Two were lost in accidents; 1718/K in 1963 and 1716/J in 1994. 1719/L or Pelican L, was delivered 13 October 1957. She served with 35 Sqd until retired in 1984 and but on display at Cape Town's V&A Waterfront where she was left to decay and was finally broken up at AFB Ysterplaat. Photographer unknown

Other than the RAF, the SAAF was the only other user of the Avro Shackleton. Eight MR 3s were ordered in 1954 with deliveries in 1957 and 1958. Two were lost in accidents; 1718/K in 1963 and 1716/J in 1994. 1722/P or Pelican P, was delivered 26 February 1958. She served with 35 Sqd until retired in 1984. After the loss of 1716, 1722 was refurbished to flying condition with the SAAF Museum Historical Flight at AFB Ysterplaat. She is now on display at the SAAF Museum Ysterplaat. Photographer unknown

This Shackleton became famous in 1994. After being withdrawn from use in 1990, it was restored into flying condition and left South Africa for the UK on 12 July 1994 to take part in the air show season. It was flown by active SAAF pilots. En route the aircraft suffered several technical problems and had to make a forced landing in the Western Sahara the following day and was subsequently written off. The aircraft still remains in the desert, slowly being buried under the sand. Photographer unknown

One of eight Shackletons operated by the South African Air Force from 1957 to 1984 - 1722 was the last one remaining flying. Operated by the South African Air Force Museum based at AFB Ysterplaat. Photographed by HP. Abt.

Operated with the SAAF from 1945, flying for many years as a target tug for 25 Squadron from Ysterplat. Converted to C-47TP in the late 1990s and operated by 35 Squadron also based at Ysterplat. Involved in a runway excursion landing at Mthatha in November 2012 and believed written off.

Flying over Table Bay outside Cape Town with Green Point in the background.

Crashed in the Sahara (Mauritania) on 13 July 1994

This aircraft has US serial 42-92157.

This Shackleton became famous 14 years after this picture was taken. After it had been withdrawn from use in 1990, it was restored into flying condition. On 12 July 1994, it took off headed for England to take part in several airshows, flown by active SAAF pilots. Unfortunately, the aircraft had to make a belly landing in the Western Sahara on July 13th and subsequently was written off. The aircraft still remains there, slowly being burried under the sand.

Pelican 22 was the last airworthy Shackleton MR3.