Bangladesh Air Force

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Bangladesh Air Force


caption=
dates= 1971 - present
country= Flag|Bangladesh
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command_structure=
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garrison_label=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
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march=
mascot=
equipment=
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battles=
anniversaries=
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commander1=Air Marshal Shah Mohammed Ziaur Rahman
commander1_label=Air Force Chief of Staff
commander2=
commander2_label=
commander3=
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notable_commanders=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Roundel
identification_symbol_2=
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aircraft_attack= Q-5
aircraft_bomber= A-5C
aircraft_electronic=
aircraft_fighter= F-7, MiG-29,L-39
aircraft_interceptor=
aircraft_patrol=
aircraft_recon=
aircraft_trainer= T-37, Fouga Magister, PT-6
aircraft_transport= An-32, C-130, Mi-8, Mi-17
helicopters= Bell 206L, Bell 212, Mi-17 attack

The Bangladesh Air Force (বাংলােদশ িবমান বািহনী Bangladesh Biman Bahini in Bangla), is the tactical and strategic air branch of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Bangladesh Air Force consists of more than 15,000 personnel including 2,700 officers of whom around 450 are General Duty Pilots.

History

Bangladesh Air Force was officially formed during the Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan in 1971. Its official date of formation has been established as September 21, 1971. Initially, BAF was formed with all officers and trained airmen of Bengali origin serving in the Pakistan Air Force prior to the war. At that time, the embryo of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) was formed with an air chief and less than a hundred officers and airmen. During the end of the war a symbolic flight known as 'Kilo Flight' was flown to establish the Bangladesh Air Force. Initially, 'Kilo Flight' consisted of three out of date malfunctioning aircraft provided by the Indian authorities. Nine officers and 47 airmen who defected and crossed into India were given a symbolic operation to mark the beginning of the air force. Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud was appointed as the commander of the 'Kilo Flight' with two transport planes and one helicopter. After repairing the three aircraft into some operational form, 'Kilo Flight' successfully began its maiden flight operation in the new air force. It bombed an old and almost empty fuel storage in Chittagong and Narayangonj area and thus the journey of BAF had commenced. Almost entirely all BAF flight and aviation equipment and gear that was acquired with the nations independence was taken by the Indian armed forces. [http://www.baf.mil.bd/baf_history/baf_history.html Bangladesh Air Force History] ]

In 1972, the three aircraft C-47 Dakota, DC-3 and a French Alouette helicopter was left to Bangladesh by India which being obsolete were soon out of operation. Despite the lack of aircraft, the Pakistan Air Force prior to 1971 had a large number of Bengali pilots, air traffic controllers, technicians and administrative officers many of whom distinguished themselves during thr Bangladesh Liberation War, this providing the Bangladesh Air Force with a good number of trained personnel.

Notable Air Force Personnel Bangladesh Liberation War 1971 from Pakistan

Wing Commander Muhammad Hamidullah Khan - Commander Sector 11 Bangladesh Liberation War

Squadron Leader Sultan Mahmud - Freedom Fighter

Squadron Leader Islam - Freedom Fighter

Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman (military pilot) - Killed during Daring attempt to defect from PAF to BD for participating in Bangladesh Liberation War

Flight Lieutenant Liaqat - Freedom Fighter

Wing Commander Khademul Bashar - Commander Sector 6 Bangladesh Liberation War

Flt Lt Saiful Azam - Flight Lieutenant Saiful Azam has the unique distinction of having kills against air forces of two different countries. As a young Flying Officer during the 65 War, Saiful Azam scored a kill against an Indian Air Force Gnat, in recognition of which he was awarded Sitara-i-Jurat. Two years later Saiful Azam became the first Pakistani pilot to score against the Israeli Air Force in the 1967 Arab-Israel war. He shot down a Vatour Bomber, a super Mystere, and a Mirage IIIC, all in only two missions thus raising his tally to four kills. To-date he remains the highest shooter of Israeli aircraft in history of dogfight.He has been highly decorated with gallantry awards by both Jordan and Iraq for his extraordinary display of skill and courage. He retired as a Group Captain from Bangladesh Air Force. In 2001, he was honoured by the United States Air Force (USAF) and enjoys the status of being one of the twenty two 'Living Eagles' of the world.

Group Captain A.K. Khandekar - Deputy Chief of Staff to C-in-C General M. A. G. Osmani (Banga Bir), Bangladesh Forces, 1971.

Branches of Bangladesh Air Force

Branches of Bangladesh Air Force are General Duty (Pilot), Maintenance Technical Engineering, Maintenance Technical Communication and Electronics, Maintenance Technical Armament, Logistic, Administrative, Air Traffic Control, Education, Legal, Accounts, Meteorology etc. (Banglapedia)

Installations

BAF Headquarters is located in Dhaka Cantonment. There are many bases set up all over the country. BAF Bases Bashar (Dhaka), Zahurul Haque (Chittagong) and Matiur (Jessore) are named after National and Air Force heroes. Other major bases are BAF Base Pahar Kanchanpur (Tangail), BAF Base Shamshernagar (Sylhet). Recently a new base has been set up at Bogra.

Bangladesh Air Force Academy

Bangladesh Air Force Academy is the officer training academy of the Bangladesh Air Force.It is situated in BAF base Jessore.

Officer Ranks

(in decreasing order) [http://www.bdmilitary.com/main/ranksmedals/ranks/ranks_airforce.htm]

Aircraft

! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service"", Aerospace Source Book 2008, "Aviation Week & Space Technology", January 28 2008.] ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
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Aero L-39 Albatros
CZS
trainer, light attack
L-39ZA
32

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Antonov An-32
USSR / UKR
transport
An-32
4

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Bell 206L LongRanger
USA
utility helicopter
206L
18+

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Bell 212 Twin Huey
USA
utility helicopter
212
38+
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Cessna T-37 Tweet
USA
trainer
T-37B
24
Also used by Army aviation & navy
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Chengdu F-7 Airguard
CHN
fighter
F-7BG

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F-7MB

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FT-7B
24

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36

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16
multi-role,interceptor, air defence
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Fouga CM.170 Magister
FRA
trainer
CM.170
12
Status : Currently being phased out
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Lockheed C-130 Hercules
USA
transport
C-130B
5
by US as mutual grant assistance
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Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29
USSR
fighter
MiG-29S

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MiG-29S UB
14

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2
Multirole/air-superiority fighter
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Mil Mi-17
RUS
utility helicopter
Mi-17

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Mi-171

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Mi-172
32

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16

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8
Also used by Army and UN Forces
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Nanchang A-5 Fantan
CHN
attack
A-5C
26
bomber/ground attack (will be upgraded to BVR capable)
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Shenyang J-6
CHN
fighter/trainer
ft-6
16

Markings

The basic dimensions of the Bangladesh Air Force badge, motto, ensign, and roundel are similar to that of many Commonwealth nations. Their basic colors are blue, green and red.

List of Air Force Chief

*Air Vice Marshal Abdul Karim Khondoker
*Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Ghulam Tawab
*Air Vice Marshal Khademul Bashar
*Air Vice Marshal Abdul Gafoor Mahmud
*Air Vice Marshal Sadruddin Ahmed
*Air Vice Marshal Sultan Mahmud
*Air Vice Marshal Momtaz Uddin Ahmed
*Air Vice Marshal Altaf Hossain Chowdhury(4th June 1991 - 3rd June 1995)
*Air Vice Marshal Jamal Uddin Ahmed(4th June 1995 - 3rd June 2001)
*Air Marshal Jamal Uddin Ahmed (3rd June 2001 - 4th June 2001)
*Air Vice Marshal Rafiqul Islam(4th June 2001 - 7th April 2002)
*Air Vice Marshal Fakhrul Azam(8th April 2002 - 7th April 2007)
*Air Vice Marshal Shah Mohammed Ziaur Rahman(8th April 2007 - 22nd May 2007)
*Air Marshal Shah Mohammed Ziaur Rahman (23rd May 2007 onward)

With effect from 23 May 2007, The rank of Air Chief was elevated from Air Vice Marshal to Air Marshal.

ee also

* Bangladesh Air Force
*Bangladesh Army
*Bangladesh Navy
*2006 in Bangladesh

References

1. [http://www.baf.mil.bd Official Website Of Bangladesh Air Force ]

External links

* [http://www.baf.mil.bd Official Website of Bangladesh Air Force]
* [http://www.baf.mil.bd/recruitment/aircraft.html Official Gallery of Bangaladesh Air Force ]
* [http://www.scramble.nl/bd.htm Bangaladesh Air Force Order of Battle] Courtesy of Scramble