Ghana Air Force

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 1 History 2 Organization 3 Mission 4 Aircraft inventory 5 Personnel 6 Rank Structure 6.1 Officers 6.2 Airmen 7 Skyvan episode 8 References

[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 Caribu 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 and under the command of Air Commodore de Graft-Hayford she was director, operations instructor and trainer as well 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:

• Tamale, a combat and training base.
• Takoradi, a training base.
• Kumasi, a support base.

[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 39 aircraft, including 2 combat jets and 11 helicopters.

As per 2006 the 4 MI-17 recently bought from Russia and the presidential airplane G-II where flying.

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-29	Czechoslovakia	trainer		12
Aero L-39	Czechoslovakia	trainer attack	L-39ZO	2
Aérospatiale Alouette III	France	utility helicopter	SA 319B	2
Agusta A109	Italy	utility helicopter		2
Bell 412	United States	transport helicopter	412SP	1
Britten-Norman Islander	United Kingdom	utility transport	BN-2
Cessna 172	United States	utility		3
Fokker F27	Netherlands	tactical transport	F27-400M F27-600	2 1
Fokker F28	Netherlands	passenger transport	F28-3000	1
Gulfstream G-II	United States	VIP	G-1159A	1
Mil Mi-2	Poland	utility helicopter		2
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	transport helicopter	Mi-17	4

[edit] Personnel

The senior appointment in the GAF is the Chief of Air Staff. The following is a list of chiefs of the air staff:

• 1961 Air Commodore John Whitworth (as Chief of Staff, Ghana Air Force)
• 1961 - 1963 Air Commodore J.E.S. de Graft-Hayford
• 1963 - 1968 Air Vice-Marshal Michael Otu [1]
• list incomplete
• Air Vice-Marshal Edward Mante
• Air-Vice Marshal Julius Boateng

[edit] Rank Structure

The GAF's rank structure is similar 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 or air lieutenant
• pilot officer or air sub lieutenant

[edit] Airmen

In descending order of importance the GAF airman ranks are:[3]

• Petty Officer Class I
• Petty 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