HISTORY OF ZAMBIA AIR FORCE The initial Zambia Air Force, known as the Northern Rhodesian Air Wing before independence in 1964, operated mainly in the communication and transport role. From the 1st March 1964 it was known as the Northern Rhodesia Air Force (NRAF). It consisted of two squadrons based at Livingstone Airport, with No 1 Squadron operating a transport fleet of four Dakotas and two Hunting Pembrokes C.1 received from Southern Rhodesia and No 2 Squadron a communication and reconnaissance squadron with six De Havilland DHC-2 Beavers. Initial aid for the Air Force came from the UK. This was followed by Italian, Yugoslavian, Chinese and Russian aid. Some C-47 Dakotas were added from the RAF in 1969 and possibly 1973. On the 24th October 1964 the NRAF changed its title to Zambia Air Force. A Royal Air Force team was sent to Zambia to prepare Zambians for positions in the new air force. This saw the formation of a Flying Training School (FTS) and a Technical Training School (TTS). The first aircraft from Britain were six DHC-1 Chipmunks, WG283, WG284, WG299, WG428, WK618, WK619, and were flown by the Flying Training School. The correct tie-ups for the first two are still not clear. With the dissolution of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, 4 Dakotas from the Southern Rhodesia Air Force were transferred to Northern Rhodesia (not yet Zambia) together with the 2 Hunting Percival Pembrokes. The next aircraft to arrive were DHC-4A Caribous, with 4 arriving in 1965, followed much later by a 5th in September 1971. These served until 1984/86 when three were sold. The DHC-2 Beaver was to arrive as well in 1965, when 6 were delivered. Another 3 were to follow. For the VIP flight, a Hawker Siddely HS748 series 231 was added in 1967. Use of this particular aircraft was reserved for the President. This aircraft was written off on the 26.08.69 and a replacement series 265 was purchased in 1971. The RAF agreement was terminated in 1970 in favour of a similar agreement with Italy and Yugoslavia. Early in 1970 an order was placed with West Germany for 10 Dornier Do-28D Skyservants, with deliveries being made later that year and early 1971. These were followed by an order to Italy for 20 SIAI-Marchetti SF260MZ aerobatic trainers to replace the cancelled order for Beagle Bulldogs. Altogether nine SF260MZs were delivered during 1970/71. A large number of SF260s were written off in training related accidents and the Zambia Air Force then chose the Swedish SAAB MFI-15-200A Safari as a replacement from 1976. It is known that three SF260s were disposed of to Aerotech in the Phillipines. An unconfirmed report states that the Zambia Air Force received at least three more SIAI-Marchetti SF260TP trainers with two, having serials AF 536 & AF538. It is doubtful whether this ever occurred, however this is Africa and with the secrecy surrounding aircraft deliveries, anything can happen. The small but rapidly expanding air force put on show some of its new Italian MB326GBs and Yugoslav SOKO Jastreb/Galeb jet fighter/trainers in Lusaka on 24th October 1971. They took part in a flypast as part of a military display in front of President Kaunda during celebrations to mark Zambia’s seventh anniversary. Italian Air Force officers helped to train Zambians at Lusaka and Livingstone, and other aid consisted of the building of new bases at Mumbwa, 100 miles west of Lusaka, and Mbala, some 650 miles north east of Lusaka, on the Tanzanian border. Some of the MB326GBs were flown out from Italy via: El Aaium, Dakar, Roberts Field, Douala, Kinshasa, Lulabourg to Lusaka. The first three were given the serials 2001, 2002, 2003, but these were later changed to 801, 802, 803. Three of the last to arrive were air freighted to Lusaka in a Cargolux CL- 44 TF-CLA on 25.07.74. At about this time, the first helicopters were to arrive, with the majority being from the Agusta Bell production line, with a mix of A-B 47s, A-B 212s and a few A-B 205s. Early in 1979, said to be the 25th & 26th February, ZANU-PF terrorists shot down two of the MB326GBs inside Zambian territory, apparently mistaking them for Rhodesian Air Force aircraft. The two MB326GBs were downed near an area north west of Lusaka where the Patriotic Front supporting Joshua Nkomo had a number of camps. Three others are also known to have crashed. During 1978 three more MB326GBs were added to make up for attrition. The transport unit was further strengthened with the arrival of two Douglas DC-6Bs believed to have come from Yugoslavia. The two DC-6Bs were parked at Lusaka Airport for many years until they were sold to a concern in Namibia. A number (3) of Yak-40s were delivered, however only one is known to be serviceable. In 1978 China presented Zambia with 12 SHENYANG F-6 (MiG-19) day fighters. These were to act as a deterrent to the Rhodesian Air Force who were regularly entering Zambian air space. Serials are unknown and one is known to have crashed on 25.02.80. Early in 1980 a squadron of 16 Russian built MiG-21MF single-seat fighters and 2 MiG- 21UM two-seat trainers were ordered and delivered. Only one serial has come to light and that is of a MiG-21UM with the serial AF 824 seen at Lusaka Airport in February 1986. A MiG-21 is known to have crashed in May 1989. Another type obtained from China is the SHENYANG BT-6, twelve are believed to have been delivered in 1978. Their serials are unknown. A rare photograph of one was taken at Mumbwa AFB in 1985, no sign of a serial. A large number of Mil Mi-8 helicopters were obtained from the Soviet Union in 1975. Seven were seen at Lusaka Airport in Feb 1986 and only AF 758 appeared to be airworthy. By 1994 the majority were WFU due to lack of spares. During 1976 Zambia received seven De Havilland DHC-5D Buffaloes. A DHC-5D Buffalo was written off on 25.07.82 killing three on board, and another crashed on 17.02.90. The worst accident was on the 27.04.93 when a DHC-5D Buffalo (AF319) transporting the Zambian national soccer team and their officials crashed into the sea off Gabon, killing all the passengers and crew. A week of national mourning was declared. Two Yarbin Y-12II light transport aircraft were delivered early in 1994. These are of Chinese origin. A report in 1997 stated that another three Yarbin Y-12IIs have been delivered, followed by some more in 2006. Yarbin Y-12II 216 crashed after take-off from Mongu airport on 18.05.2005. As many as 10 could be on strength. AF216 was used to demonstrate to the Namibians in 1996. The Hongdu Aviation Industrial Group (HAIG) formerly the Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Company (NAMC) delivered 8 K-8 jet trainers to Zambia, late 1999 early 2000. These have been used regularly on visits to South Africa and for flypasts over Lusaka. Another Chinese type to arrive has been the AVIC MA-60 (Y-7), 3 being delivered in 2006. It is the Chinese version of the An-26. A number of early reviews by aviation magazines refer to Zambia having received Antonov An-26s. These are yet to be seen. So their existence is doubtful. Sometime in 2005/2006, the air force ordered 3 Agusta Bell 205 helicopters from a South African based business. They were previously flown by the Italian military before being withdrawn from service, disposed of to a business in Cape Town, rebuilt, and sold to the Zambian military. They were flown from Cape Town to Lusaka on their delivery flight in 2006, with numerous stopovers along the way. Much has been written about some Zambian MiG-21MFs and 2 x MiG-21UMs being re-furbished by IAI in Israel. It is possible some of the MFs did reach Zambia, but at this moment there are 2 x UMs and a single MF still in storage at IAI. In my African Air Forces book I made mention of 15 SOKO Galebs and 18 SOKO Jastrebs. I believe this was over ambitious, as a maximum of 10 have been seen on Google Earth at Mbala, unless many were written off. SERIALS: In the early days it seems there was a certain amount of confusion regarding the allocation of serials, with the SIAI Marchetti SF260MZs being allocated 701 – 709 and then finding that these also belong to the early helicopters. The first three Aermacchi MB326s received serials AF2001 – 2003, only to be changed to AF801 – 803. BASES: As mentioned in the text, the first base was Livingstone. Then there was a move of the transport element to Lusaka International Airport. As part of the co-operation agreement with Italy and Yuogoslavia, I suspect that the Italians built the new base at Mumbwa, 100 miles east of Lusaka, and the Yugoslavians built the base at Mbala, 650 mile north east of Lusaka, on the Tanzanian border, previously known as Abercorn. I suspect that Mumbwa is the equivalent of the Tanzanian - Ngerengere base built by the Chinese, with rwith revetments to park the MiG-19s. I suspect the remaining MB326GBs are also based there.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 14:08:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015