The Bophuthatswana Air Force (BAF) was the aviation branch of the

Bophuthatswana Defence Force The Bophuthatswana Defence Force ( af, Bophuthatswana Weermag; BDF) was established on 6 December 1977 from trainees of the South African Defence Force. It was the defence force of the Republic of Bophuthatswana, a nominally independent bantust ...

. The BAF existed from 1987 until 27 April 1994. The primary role of the BAF was to provide support and medevac services to the ground units of the Bophuthatswana army. The BAF operated from several bases, one being Mmabatho AFB. All surviving aircraft and helicopters were integrated into the South African Air Force after 27 April 1994.

History

An air component of the BDF was established on 19 March 1981 with the purchase of an

Alouette III Alouette or alouettes may refer to: Music and literature * "Alouette" (song), a French-language children's song * Alouette, a character in ''The King of Braves GaoGaiGar'' Aerospace * SNCASE Alouette, a utility helicopter developed in France i ...

from the South African Police. It was flown by Major De Villiers and Captain LaGrange of the SAAF, with Warrant Officer Strydom, ex-Rhodesian Air Force as Technical officer and Warrant Officer Viljoen of the South West African Police as Gunner and Navigator. In 1982, the unit became known as ''Bophuthatswana Air Wing'' with the arrival of a 2nd

and 2 Helio H-295s. In 1983, 2

Partenavia P.68 The Partenavia P.68, now Vulcanair P68, is a light aircraft designed by Luigi Pascale and initially built by Italian Partenavia. It made its first flight on 25 May 1970, its type certification was granted on 17 November 1971 and was transferred ...

s and an AS-355 Écureuil were purchased - the latter was assigned to VIP transports. In November 1989, it was replaced by an SA-365N1 Dauphin. In 1985, a

CASA 212-200 The CASA C-212 Aviocar is a turboprop-powered STOL medium cargo aircraft designed and built by the Spanish aircraft manufacturer Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA). It is designed for use by both civil and military operators. The C-212 ...

Aviocar was purchased to transport paratroopers, a

CASA 212-300 The CASA C-212 Aviocar is a turboprop-powered STOL medium cargo aircraft designed and built by the Spanish aircraft manufacturer Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA). It is designed for use by both civil and military operators. The C-212 ...

was received in 1987.Bophuthatswana Air Force CASA 212-300
/ref> The 2 Helios were withdrawn from service and replaced by 2

MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 The MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 is a twin-engined medium Utility helicopter, utility–transport helicopter. It was jointly developed and manufactured by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) of Germany and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kawasaki of Japan. MBB ...

s. With the arrival of so many new aircraft, the Bophuthatswana Air Wing took the name Bophuthatswana Air Force in late 1987. In 1987 it was the first air unit in South Africa to train and commission Black pilot officers. The complement in 1988 was - *Air Commodore Pretorius, Commander, ex-

SAP Sap is a fluid transported in xylem cells (vessel elements or tracheids) or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. These cells transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. Sap is distinct from latex, resin, or cell sap; it is a separa ...

Air Wing *Colonel De Villiers, Deputy Commander, ex-SAAF *Lt. Col. Taylor, ex- Rhodesian Air Force *Major Lagrange, ex-SAAF *Major DuPlooy, ex- Selous Scouts Navigator *Major Howell, ex-Rhodesian Air Force *Major van Niekerk,

SWAPOL The South West African Police (SWAPOL) was the national police force of South West Africa (now Namibia), responsible for law enforcement and public safety in South West Africa when the territory was administered by South Africa. It was organised ...

Air Wing *Captain van der Merwe, SAP Air wing *Captain Strydom, ex-

RhAF , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = 8 November , equipment = , equipment_label ...

, Ground component (Base security & Comms) *Captain Nogomela, Ground component (Radar) *Captain Steyn, SAAF *Captain Grobbelaar, SAP Air Wing *Captain Antonio Carvalho Pereira, ex-Portuguese Special Forces Navigator & Pararescueman *Captain Tswelopele *Lieutenant Semope *Lieutenant Viljoen, ex-SWAPOL Air Wing *Lieutenant Sims, ex-Rhodesian Air Force (Maintenance) *Drill Sergeant Major Tsolekile, ex- British South Africa Police, Training and Discipline *Warrant Officer Labuschagne, ex-SAAF (Maintenance & Radar) *Warrant Officer Pinto, ex-Grupos Especiais NCO from Portuguese Angola (Loadmaster, Training & Discipline) *Drill Sergeant Mutwa, ex-

SWATF The South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF) was an auxiliary arm of the South African Defence Force (SADF) and comprised the armed forces of South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1977 to 1989. It emerged as a product of South Africa's politic ...

(Loadmaster & Base Security) *Drill Sergeant Badenhorst, ex-SADF (Base Security) *Drill Sergeant Kwape (Maintenance) *Sergeant Merafhe (Comms and Radar) *Sergeant Mudzwingwa, ex-

Rhodesian African Rifles The Rhodesian African Rifles (RAR) was a regiment of the Rhodesian Army. The ranks of the RAR were recruited from the black African population, although officers were generally from the white population. The regiment was formed in May 1940 in the ...

(Base Security and Training & Discipline)

Aircraft

References

{{reflist *Flight Global: ''World's Air Forces'' (1990) *Frédéric Lert, ''Ainsi finit la Bophutatswana Air Force, magazine ''Le Fana de l'aviation'', n° 300, November 1994

External links

Pilatus - Bophuthatswana Air Force (Bop Air Force)

Bophutatswana Bophuthatswana (, meaning "gathering of the Tswana people"), officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana ( tn, Riphaboliki ya Bophuthatswana; af, Republiek van Bophuthatswana), was a Bantustan (also known as "Homeland"; an area set aside for mem ...

Bophuthatswana Disbanded air forces

History

Aircraft

See also

References

External links