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Bangladesh Air Force
The Bangladesh Air Force ( 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 Initially, 'Kilo Flight' consisted of three out of date malfunctioning aircraft provided by the Indian authorities.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. 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 the 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.
Officer Ranks
List of Air Force Chief
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
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 the 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.
Officer Ranks
| Marshal of the Air Force |
| Air Chief Marshal |
| Air Marshal |
| Air Vice Marshal |
| Air Commodore |
| Group Captain |
| Wing Commander |
| Squadron Leader |
| Flight Lieutenant |
| Flying Officer |
| Pilot Officer |
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)
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Latest page update: made by BANGLADESH
, Nov 20 2008, 2:09 AM EST
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