Ext Rare Early 1945 SAAF SALM South African Air Force # 42 Air Observation Post Squadron Badge

This is an Extremely Rare Early 1945 SAAF SALM South African Air Force # 42 Air Observation Post Squadron Badge with flaming bomb Artillery Emblem in 2-D nickel at center, with blue wings behind, on a yellow triangle bordered green. 

Reads L. O. P. 42 A. O. P. AOP stands for Air Observation Post, LOP means the same, but in Afrikaans, not sure what the actual wording would be. 

The 42 squadron was first formed in Bari, Italy during World War II on 23 January 194Many of the pilots were selected from the South African Air Force and given extra training to prepare the pilots for their artillery-spotting duties. The flight flew Auster aircraft in Europe. The flight relocated often as they moved from base to base in Europe as the German forces retreated from Italy until the end of the war. At the end of the war, 42 AOP Flight and their Auster aircraft were shipped back to South Africa and were based at Potchefstroom, home of the SA artillery.