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.
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CASA 212-200 Aviocar was purchased to transport paratroopers, a CASA 212-300 was received in 1987.[1] The 2 Helios were withdrawn from service and replaced by 2 MBB/Kawasaki BK 117s.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 Air Wing
^ abcdefg"World Air Forces 1991 pg. 37". flightglobal.com. Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
^Hatch, Paul F. (July 1985). "Air Forces of the World: Bophuthatswana Defence Force Air Wing". Air Pictorial. Vol. 47, no. 7. p. 249.
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)
January 06, 2023
bophuthatswana, force, aviation, branch, bophuthatswana, defence, force, existed, from, 1987, until, april, 1994, primary, role, provide, support, medevac, services, ground, units, bophuthatswana, army, operated, from, several, bases, being, mmabatho, force, r. 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 Bophuthatswana Air ForceAir Force roundelFounded1987 1994 ceased Country BophuthatswanaBranchAir forceRoleAir defenceSize17 officers 8 Senior NCOs 52 men in 1988 All surviving aircraft and helicopters were integrated into the South African Air Force after 27 April 1994 Contents 1 History 2 Aircraft 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditAn 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 Ecureuil 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 1 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 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 Air Wing Captain van der Merwe SAP Air wing Captain Strydom ex RhAF Ground component Base security amp Comms Captain Nogomela Ground component Radar Captain Steyn SAAF Captain Grobbelaar SAP Air Wing Captain Antonio Carvalho Pereira ex Portuguese Special Forces Navigator amp 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 amp Radar Warrant Officer Pinto ex Grupos Especiais NCO from Portuguese Angola Loadmaster Training amp Discipline Drill Sergeant Mutwa ex SWATF Loadmaster amp Base Security Drill Sergeant Badenhorst ex SADF Base Security Drill Sergeant Kwape Maintenance Sergeant Merafhe Comms and Radar Sergeant Mudzwingwa ex Rhodesian African Rifles Base Security and Training amp Discipline Aircraft EditAircraft Origin Type In service NotesCombat AircraftPilatus PC 7 Switzerland training COIN 3 2 TransportCASA CN 235 Spain utility transport 1 2 C 212 Aviocar Spain transport 2 2 Pilatus PC 6 Switzerland transport liaison 1 2 Helio Courier United States utility transport 2 3 HelicoptersBK 117 Germany utility liaison 2 2 Alouette III France liaison 2 2 SA365N Dauphin France VIP 2 2 See also EditSouth African Air ForceReferences Edit Bophuthatswana Air Force CASA 212 300 a b c d e f g World Air Forces 1991 pg 37 flightglobal com Flightglobal Insight 2015 Retrieved 4 January 2015 Hatch Paul F July 1985 Air Forces of the World Bophuthatswana Defence Force Air Wing Air Pictorial Vol 47 no 7 p 249 Flight Global World s Air Forces 1990 Frederic Lert Ainsi finit la Bophutatswana Air Force magazineLe Fana de l aviation n 300 November 1994External links EditPilatus Bophuthatswana Air Force Bop Air Force Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bophuthatswana Air Force amp oldid 1059567296, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
