Bangladesh Air Force

Bangladesh Air Force
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Bangladesh_Air_Force".

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Bangladesh Air Force
Active	1971 - present
Country	Bangladesh
Commanders
Air Force Chief of Staff	Air Marshal Shah Mohammed Ziaur Rahman
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	Q-5
Bomber	A-5C
Fighter	F-7, MiG-29,L-39
Trainer	T-37, Fouga Magister, PT-6
Transport	An-32, C-130, Mi-8, Mi-17

The Bangladesh Air Force (বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী 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.

1 History
2 Branches of Bangladesh Air Force
3 Installations
4 Bangladesh Air Force Academy
5 Officer Ranks
6 Aircraft
7 Markings
8 List of Air Force Chief
9 See also
10 References
11 External links

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 Initially, 'Kilo Flight' consisted of three out of date malfunctioning aircraft provided by the Indian authorities.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. Bangladesh Air Force History</ref>

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.