Ghana Air Force
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| Ghana Air Force | |
|---|---|
 Ghana Air Force Ensign |
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| Founded | 1959 |
| Country | Ghana |
| Size | Around 1,000 personnel 39 aircraft (on inventory) 5 aircraft flying (in 2006) |
| Part of | Ghanaian Ministry of Defence and Central Defence Headquarters |
| Air Force HQ | Accra |
| Commanders | |
| Chief of the Air Staff | Air Vice-Marshal J O Boateng |
| Insignia | |
| Roundel |  |
The Ghana Air Force (GAF) is the air force of the African nation of Ghana. The GAF, along with the Ghanaian Army and Navy, make up the armed forces of Ghana which are controlled by that nation's Ministry of Defence.
Contents |
[edit] History
The GAF was founded in 1959 with direction from Indian and Israeli officers. Later that year a headquarters was established in Accra under the command of an Indian air commodore. In 1960 Royal Air Force personnel took up the task of training the newly established Ghana Air Force and in 1961 they were joined by a small group of Royal Canadian Air Force personnel. In September 1961 as part of President Kwame Nkrumah's africanization programme , the Royal Air Force commander was replaced by a Ghanaian Army Brigadier, re-designated to Air Commodore. This person was, Air Commodore J.E.S. de Graft-Hayford (1912-2002). Although born in the U.K. he was of Ghanaian descent and became Africa's first 'Chief of the Air Staff' south of the Sahara.
The Ghana Air Force was the first, and largest sub Sahara air force at one time . The Ghana Air Force was equipped with a Squadron of Chipmunk trainers, and Squadrons of Beavers, Otters and Caribou transport aircraft. In addition a DH125 jet was bought for Kwame Nkrumah, Hughes Helicopters were bought for Mosquito spraying plus DH Doves and Herons. Whirlwind Helicopters and a Squadron of MB 326 Ground Attack / Trainer Jets were also purchased.
In 1962 the national school of gliding was set up by Hanna Reitsch who was once Adolf Hitler's top personal pilot. Under the command of Air Commodore de Graft-Hayford, she served as director, operations instructor and trainer of the school. She also acted as personal pilot for Kwame Nkrumah from 1962-1966.
[edit] Organization
The GAF headquarters and main transport base are located in Accra and the Service has a strength of around 1000 personnel. Other air bases include:
[edit] Mission
The GAF's mission is to perform counterinsurgency operations and to provide logistical support to the Ghanaian army. However, performance has been hindered by a lack of spare parts and by poor maintenance capabilities.
[edit] Aircraft Inventory
The Ghana Air Force ownes 38 aircraft, including 2 combat jets and 11 helicopters.
All other aircraft where grounded because of lack of spare parts.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service[1] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aermacchi MB-339 |  Italy |
trainer | 4 | ||
| Aero L-39 Albatros |  Czechoslovakia |
trainer
attack |
L-39ZO | 2 | |
| Aérospatiale SA-319 Alouette III |  France |
utility helicopter | SA-319B | 2 | |
| Agusta A109 | Italy |
utility helicopter | 2 | ||
| Bell 412 |  United States |
transport helicopter | 412SP | 1 | |
| Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander |  United Kingdom |
utility transport | BN-2 | ||
| Cessna 172 Skyhawk | United States |
utility | 3 | ||
| Fokker F27 Friendship |  Netherlands |
tactical transport | F27-400M
F27-600 |
2
1 |
|
| Fokker F28 Fellowship | Netherlands |
passenger transport | F28-3000 | 1 | |
| Hongdu K-8 Karakorum |  China |
trainer | K-8 (export) | 4[2] | |
| Mil Mi-2 Hoplite |  Poland |
utility helicopter | 2 | ||
| Mil Mi-17 Hip-H |  Soviet Union |
transport helicopter | Mi-17 | 4 |
[edit] Chiefs of the Air Staff
The senior appointment in the GAF is the Chief of Air Staff. The following is a list of the Ghana Air Force Chiefs of the Air Staff:
- Air Commodore K. Jaswant-Singh (May 1959 – ?)
- Air Commodore John Whitworth (British) (1961)
- Air Commodore J.E.S. de Graft-Hayford(First Ghanaian CAS) (1961 – 1963)
- Air Vice-Marshal Michael Otu(1963 – 1968) [1]
- Air Commodore Charles Beausoliel
- Air Vice Marshal George Yaw Boakye (1976-1979)
- Air Marshal
- Air Marshal John Asamoah Bruce (? – 16 March 2001[3])
- Air Vice Marshal Edward Apau Mantey[4] (March 16, 2001 – May 2005)
- Air Vice Marshal Julius Otchere Boateng[5] (20 May 2005 [6] – ?)
[edit] Rank Structure
The GAF's rank structure is similar to the RAF's rank structure from where its ranks were derived.
[edit] Officers
In descending order of importance the GAF officer ranks are:[2]
- Air Marshal
- Air Vice Marshal
- Air Commodore
- Group Captain
- Wing Commander
- Squadron Leader
- Flight Lieutenant
- Flying officer
- pilot officer
[edit] Airmen
In descending order of importance the GAF airman ranks are:[3]
- Warrant Officer Class I
- Warrant Officer Class II
- Flight Sergeant
- Sergeant
- Corporal
- Leading Aircraftman
[edit] Skyvan episode
The GAF once operated six Shorts Skyvans, two of which (the G452 (SH1929) and G455 (SH1933)) had structural damage and were scrapped. The other four were sold to an Austrian Company in 2004 (SH1929, SH1930, SH1932 and SH1933). The full story of this is on www.ghanaairforce.com .
[edit] References
- ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
- ^ Ghana military aviation OrBat
- ^ "New Military Chiefs Take Over Command", General News of Monday, 26 March 2001, Ghana Home Page. Retrieved on 2007-06-19.
- ^ Immediate Past Chief of Air Staff - Ghana Air Force. Official website. Ghana Armed Forces (22 April 2005). Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
- ^ "Chief of Air Staff - Ghana Air Force", Official website, Ghana Armed Forces, 21 May 2005. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
- ^ "Military Reshuffle: More changes", General News of Saturday, 21 May 2005, Ghana Home Page. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
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