Air Force of Zimbabwe

• Defending Zimbabwe's Airspace.
• Providing an effective counter-strike force.
• Providing close air support to ground forces.
• Supporting civil powers to maintain law and order.
• Providing search and rescue and casualty evacuations.
• Providing VIP and VVIP transport.
• Performing ceremonial fly-pasts.

Commanders Of The Air Force of Zimbabwe

• Air Chief Marshal Norman Walsh 1981 - 1983
• Air Chief Marshal Azim Daudpota 1983- 1986
• Air Chief Marshal Josiah Tungamirai 1986-1992
• Air Chief Marshal Perrance Shiri 1992-2017
• Air Marshal Elson Moyo 2017-

Background

In 1939 an Air Unit was started, later becoming the South Rhodesian Air Force. In the Southern Rhodesian Air Force, serials SR1 - SR139 were used. In 1953 Rhodesia and Nyasaland formed a federation and in 1954 the Air Force was named Rhodesian Air Force, shortly after that to be renamed to Royal Rhodesian Air Force. This meant that serials all started with RRAF during that period. ^[1]

In 1980 the Airforce of Zimbabwe (AFZ) was formed after the integration of the three belligerent forces, The Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), and the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army, ( ZIPRA), on one side and the Rhodesian Air Force on the other. ^[2]

Command Element

• Commander
• 

  Air Marshal Elson Moyo - Photo Credit: Image Credit Herald

• 

  Air Vice Marshal Shebba Shumbayaonda

• 

  Air Vice Marshal Michael Tedzani Moyo - Photo Credit: Herald

• 

  Air Vice Marshal Jacob Nzvede

• 

  Air Vice Marshal Jasper Garikayi Marangwanda

LIST IS NOT COMPLETE

Rank structure

The AFZ's rank structure is similar to the RAF's rank structure from where, via the Rhodesian Air Force, its ranks were derived.

Commissioned Officers

In descending order, the AFZ officer ranks are:

• Air Chief Marshal (removed from hierarchy after Josiah Tungamirai)
• Air Marshal equivalent to Lieutenant-General in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Air Vice Marshal equivalent to Major-General in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Air Commodore equivalent to Brigadier-General (or just Brigadier) in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Group Captain equivalent to Colonel in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Wing Commander equivalent to Lieutenant-Colonel in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Squadron Leader equivalent to Major in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Flight Lieutenant equivalent to Captain in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Air Lieutenant equivalent to Lieutenant in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Air Sub Lieutenant equivalent to Second Lieutenant in the Zimbabwe National Army

Airmen/Enlisted Personnel

In descending order, the AFZ airmen ranks are:

• Warrant Officer Class I equivalent to Warrant Officer Class I in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Warrant Officer Class II equivalent to Warrant Officer Class II in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Master Sergeant
• Flight Sergeant equivalent to Staff Sergeant in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Sergeant equivalent to Sergeant in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Corporal equivalent to Corporal in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Senior Aircraftman equivalent to Lance Corporal in the Zimbabwe National Army
• Leading Aircraftman
• Aircraftman equivalent to Private in the Zimbabwe National Army

Composition

In 1998, the Air Force of Zimbabwe was composed as follows.

Air Force of Zimbabwe Squadrons

Squadron	Base	Aircraft	Details
1st Squadron (CS Panzer)	Gweru	6 x Hunter FGA Mk.9, 1 x Hunter T.Mk.81	Fighters - 5 purchased from Kenya in 1980.
2nd Squadron (CS Cobra) Jet Fighter Training School	Gweru	11 x Hawk Mk 60	Fighter/trainer - 10 operation of 13 purchased.
3rd Squadron (CS Falcon)	Harare, Manyame	11 x C.212-200, 5 x BN-2A	Light transport - all operational.
4th Squadron (CS Hornet)	Gweru	15 x FTB.337G	Lynx (push/pull) - Advanced trainers and light strikers.
5th Squadron (CS Arrow)	Gweru	11 x F-7IN/11N	Interceptors - six to seven operational of 12 purchased in 1980s
6th Squadron (CS Tiger)	Gweru	8 x SF. 260M, 12 x SF.260C/W, 6 x SF.260TP/F	Light strikers - 27 available, used primarily for basic and advanced flight training.
7th Squadron (CS Spider)	Harare, Manyame	20 to 25 x SA.316B	Allouette helicopters - 20 available including ex-Portuguese Air Force aircraft.
8th Squadron (CS Scorpion)	Harare, Manyame	8 x AB.412SP	Bell helicopters - 6 operational.

^[3]

Reference