The Bophuthatswana Air Force (BAF) was the aviation branch of the Bophuthatswana Defence Force. 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 "Through hardships to the stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , equipment ...

after 27 April 1994.

History

An air component of the BDF was established on 19 March 1981 with the purchase of an Alouette III 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 Alouette III and 2 Helio H-295s. In 1983, 2 Partenavia P.68s 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 Aviocar was purchased to transport paratroopers, a CASA 212-300 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 The 2 Helios were withdrawn from service and replaced by 2 MBB/Kawasaki BK 117s. 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 separ ...

Air Wing *Colonel De Villiers, Deputy Commander, ex-SAAF *Lt. Col. Taylor, ex-

Rhodesian Air Force The Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) was an air force based in Salisbury (now Harare) which represented several entities under various names between 1935 and 1980: originally serving the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia, it was the ...

*Major Lagrange, ex-SAAF *Major DuPlooy, ex-

Selous Scouts The Selous Scouts was a special forces unit of the Rhodesian Army that operated during the Rhodesian Bush War from 1973 until the reconstitution of the country as Zimbabwe in 1980. It was mainly responsible for infiltrating the black majority ...

Navigator *Major Howell, ex-Rhodesian Air Force *Major van Niekerk, SWAPOL Air Wing *Captain van der Merwe, SAP Air wing *Captain Strydom, ex- RhAF, 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 The British South Africa Police (BSAP) was, for most of its existence, the police force of Rhodesia (renamed Zimbabwe in 1980). It was formed as a paramilitary force of mounted infantrymen in 1889 by Cecil Rhodes' British South Africa Company, fro ...

, 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 (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