Nigerian Air Force

at the time, no doubt, recognized the urgent need to establish an air force actively supported by modern facilities to provide full complement of forces to enhance the nation's military posture. Early in 1962, the Government agreed in principle that the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) be established. The Nigeria parliament, therefore, approved the established of the NAF and recruitment of cadets commenced in June 1962. Consequently, the NAF was officially established by a statutory Act of parliament in April 1964 to serve four main purposes namely:
a. To achieve a full complement of the military defence system of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, both in the air and on the ground. c. To provide close support for the ground-based and sea borne forces in all phases of operations and to ensure the territorial integrity of a united Nigeria. d. To give th country the deserved prestige that is invaluable in international matters. It was in 1962 that the drive for the required manpower for the planned air force started. Simultaneous with this development, Government was in dialogue with some friendly nations on the possibility of training Nigeria Air Force personal in various specialist fields. The first batch of 10 cadets was enlisted in 1962 to undergo training with the Ethiopian Air Force. The second set of 16 cadets was enlisted in February 1963 to undergo training with the Royal Canadian Air Force while six cadets we're sent to the Indian Air Force. The stage was this set for the training of it's personnel in the country. Consequently, several countries were approached but the lot fell on the German Air Force to provide technical assistance for the local training of NAF personnel and this materialized in 1963. While the NAF was still at its infancy as a fight ing force, the laundable plans made by the German Air Force Assistance Group we're prematurely put to test barely three years after its established. The inexperienced Air Force assumed the role of a well established Air Force in order to prosecute the Nigeria civil war in close collaboration with sister Services.At this stage of its existence, the NAF was only equipped with a few aircraft. As the war progressed, some fighter aircraft such as MIG 15 and 17 were acquired to help bring the war to a speedy end.The Nigeria Civil War came to an end in 1970 and there was the need to re-organize the Nigeria Air Force and up-grade its equipment. In order to straighten itself, the NAF between 1981 and 1990 acquired additional aircraft types of advanced tec