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List of air forces

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This alphabetically arranged list of air forces identifies the current and historical names and roundels for the military aviation arms of countries fielding an air component, whether an independent air forces, a naval aviation, or army aviation units. At the end is a separate list of no longer existent nations that once operated air forces. Country names in italics indicate that they are not generally recognized internationally as independent states but which nonetheless managed to field an active air service. For information on the size of military forces, see list of countries by size of armed forces.

A

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Afghanistan Islamic Emirate Air Force[1]
دافغانستان هوايۍ ځواک
2021

Afghan Air Force

2010–2021

Afghan Army Air Corps[2]

2002–2010

Afghan National Army Air Corps[3]

1996–2001

Air and Air Defense Force of the Islamic State of Afghanistan[4]

1992–1996

former insignia

1983–1992

Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Air Force
Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan

1979-1983

Afghan Republican Air Force
De Afghan Hanoi Quirah

1973–1979

Royal Afghan Air Force

1948–1973

Afghan Air Force
Afghan Hawa-e Ourdou

1937–1947

Afghan Military Air Arm

1924[5]-1929
 Albania Albanian Air Force 1951

Air Force of the Albanian People's Army
Albanian People's Army

1951–1991

Royal Albanian Air Corps
Royal Albanian Army

1914–1939
 Algeria Algerian Air Force
Al-quwwa al-jawwiyya al-jazaeriyya, Armée de l'Air Algérienne
1962

former insignia

1962–1964
Algerian Navy
Algerian Gendarmerie
 Angola National Air Force of Angola
Força Aérea Nacional de Angola
2007

Angolan People's Air Force And Air Defence Force
Força Aérea Popular de Angolia
People's Armed Forces of Liberation of Angola

1975-2007

former insignia

1975–1980
 Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force Air Wing 2022
 Argentina Argentine Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Argentina
1945

Army Aeronautical Service
Servicio Aeronáutico del Ejército

1912–1945
Argentine Naval Aviation
Comando de Aviación Naval Argentina
1919

former insignia

Argentine Army Aviation
Comando de Aviación del Ejército Argentino
1956[6]
Argentine Coast Guard Air Service
Servicio de Aviación de la Prefectura Naval Argentina
1970
Argentine Gendarmería
Dirección de Aeronáutica de Gendarmería [1]
1955
 Armenia Armenian Air Force
Հայաստանի Ռազմաօդային Ուժեր
1992
 Australia Royal Australian Air Force 1921

former insignia

1945–1956

former insignia

1943-1946

former insignia

1942–1946

Royal Australian Air Force

1921–1942

Australian Air Force

March–August 1921

Australian Air Corps
Australian Army

1920-1921

Australian Flying Corps
First Australian Imperial Force

1912-1920
Fleet Air Arm 1947
Australian Army Aviation 1968

1st Aviation Regiment (Divisional)

1966–1968

No. 16 Army Light Aircraft Squadron

1960–1966
 Austria Austrian Air Force
Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte
1955

Austrian Air Force
Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte

1928-1938

Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops

1893–1918
 Azerbaijan Azerbaijani Air and Air Defence Force
Azərbaycan hərbi hava qüvvələri
1991

B

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Bahamas Royal Bahamas Defence Force Air Wing 1981
 Bahrain Royal Bahraini Air Force 2002

Bahrain Amiri Air Force

1987-2002

Bahrain Defence Force Air Wing

1977-1987
Public Security Forces aviation
Paramilitary security organization, national police force of Bahrain.
1971
 Bangladesh Bangladesh Air Force
বাংলাদেশ বিমান বাহিনী
Bangladesh Biman Bahini
1971

Operation Kilo Flight

1971-1972
Bangladesh Naval Aviation 2011
Bangladesh Army Aviation Group 1978
Bangladesh Border Guards
Bangladesh Army, Ministry of Defence (Bangladesh) wartime only
 Barbados Barbados Defence Force 1981[7]
 Belarus Belarusian Air Force post 1995

Belarus Air Force

1991–1995
 Belgium Belgian Air Component
Luchtcomponent, Composante Air
2002

Belgian Air Force
Belgische Luchtmacht, Force Aerienne Belge

1946-2001

Free Belgian Air Force

1940-1946

Military Aviation
Militair Vliegwezen, Aviation Militaire

1915-1940

Company of Aviators
Compagnie des Ouvries et Aérostiers

1910–1915
Belgian Navy 1962–2002
Belgian Army 1954–2002
Belgian Gendarmerie 1968-2001
 Belize Belize Defence Force Air Wing 1983
 Benin Benin Air Force
Force Aérienne de Benin
1990

People's Republic of Benin Air Force

1975–1990

Dahomey Air Force
Force Aérienne de Dahomey

1961-1975
 Bhutan Royal Bhutan Army 1972
 Bolivia Bolivian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Boliviana
1944

Bolivian Military Aviation Corps
Cuerpo de Aviación

1923–1944
Bolivian Naval Aviation
Bolivian Army Aviation
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ваздухопловство и ПВО
Zrakoplovstvo i PZO
2007

Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Air Force
Zračne Snage Armije Federacije BiH

1996–2006

Republika Srpska Air Force
Ратно Ваздухопловство и ПВО ВРС
Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo i PVO VRS

1992–2006

Croatian Defence Council aviation

1992–

Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Air Force
Zračne Snage Armije Republike BiH

1992–1996
 Botswana Botswana Defence Force Air Wing 1977
 Brazil Brazilian Air Force
Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB)
1941

Military Aviation Service
Serviço de Aviação Militar (AvM)

1918–1941
Brazilian Naval Aviation
Força Aeronaval
1916
Brazilian Army Aviation Command
Comando de Aviação do Exército Brasileiro
1986
Brazilian Military Police
Brazilian Army Military reserve force – National and state gendarmerie forces of Brazil.
 Brunei Royal Brunei Air Force
Angkatan Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei
1991

Royal Brunei Armed Forces Air Wing

1984-1991

Royal Brunei Malay Regiment, Air Wing

1966-1984
 Bulgaria Bulgarian Air Force
Български Военновъздушни Сили
1992

Bulgarian People's Army Air Force
Български Военновъздушни Сили

1949–1992

Air Army
Въздушни Войски

1945–1949

former insignia

1941–1944

Royal Bulgarian Air Force[8]

1937–1941

Gendarmery Aeroplane Detachment
Zhandarmeriisko Aeroplanno Otdelenie

1919-1920

Army Aviation Corps[9]

1915–1918

Aeronautical Detachment[10]

1906-1914
Bulgarian Naval Aviation
Aviatsia Na Bulgarskiya Voennomorski Flot (AnBVMF)
1992

Independent ASW Squadron of the Navy
Otdelna Protivolodachna Eskadrila na VMF (OPLEV-VMF)

1959–1990

Bulgarian Naval Aviation

1915–1918
 Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Air Force
Force Aérienne de Burkina Faso
1984

Upper Volta Air Force
Force Aérienne de Haute-Volta

1964–1984
 Burundi Burundi Army Aviation
Force Armée du Burundi
1966

C

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Cambodia Royal Cambodian Air Force
ទ័ពអាកាសខេមរភូមិន្ទ
Toăp Akas Khémôrôphumĭnt
1993

Cambodian People's Air Force

1989–1993

former insignia

1989–1993

Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Air Force

1979-1989[11]

Air Force of the Liberation Army of Kampuchea

1977–1979[12]

Khmer Air Force
Khmer National Armed Forces

1970–1975

Royal Khmer Air Force

1954–1970
Royal Gendarmerie of Cambodia aviation
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
 Cameroon Cameroon Air Force
Armée de l'Air du Cameroun
1960
 Canada Royal Canadian Air Force
Aviation Royale Canadienne
2011

Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM)
Commandement de la Force aérienne du Canada

1968-2011

Royal Canadian Air Force

1965-1968

Royal Canadian Air Force

1948-1965

Royal Canadian Air Force

1946-1948

Royal Canadian Air Force

1924-1946

Canadian Air Force (Air Board)

1920-1924

Canadian Air Force (in Europe)

1918–1920

Royal Air Force Canada

1918–1919

Royal Flying Corps Canada

1917–1918

Canadian Aviation Corps

1914–1915
Royal Canadian Naval Air Service 1918-1919
Canadian Army 1948–1965
Royal Canadian Mounted Police aviation - National police and gendarmerie service of Canada.
 Cape Verde Cape Verde Air Force
Força Aérea Caboverdiana
1992[13]
 Central African Republic Central African Republic Air Force
Force Aérienne Centrafricaine
1979–

Central African Empire Air Force

1976–1979

Central African Republic Air Force

1961–1976
 Chad Chadian Air Force
Force Aérienne Tchadienne
1973
 Chile Chilean Air Force
Fuerza Aérea de Chile (FACh)
1930
Chilean Naval Aviation
Servicio de Aviación de la Armada de Chile
1953
Chilean Army Aviation
Comando de Aviación del Ejército de Chile
1970[14]
Carabineros de Chile 1960
 China (PRC) People's Liberation Army Air Force
中国人民解放军空军
Zhongguo Renmin Jiefangjun Kongjun
1949

Red Army of China Air Force

c. 1930[15]
People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
中国人民解放军海军航空兵
Zhongguo Renmin Jiefangjun Haijun Hangkongbing
1952
People's Liberation Army Ground Force Aviation
中国人民解放军陆军航空兵
1987
People's Armed Police aviation - Chinese paramilitary organization, gendarmerie, border guard force. During wartime the PAP would provide support to the People's Liberation Army.

China Marine Surveillance aviation

-2013
 China (ROC/“Taiwan”) Republic of China Air Force
中華民國空軍
Chung-Hua Min-Kuo K'ung-Chün
1938

Nationalist Chinese Air Force (Central Government)[16]

1925-1938

Chinese Aviation Ministry

1920-1925?

Chinese Aviation Service

1916?–1919?

Chinese Army Air Arm

1914-1916?

Airplane Corps of the Chinese Army

1913-1914
Republic of China Army Aviation and Special Forces Command 1999

Army Paratroops and Special Forces Command

1979-1999

Army Aviation Command[17]

1976-1979
Republic of China Naval Aviation Command 1995

Naval Anti-Submarine Group

1991-1995

Fleet Helicopter Squadron

1977-1991

Chinese Naval Air Service

1927-1938
Coast Guard Administration (Taiwan), Air Patrol Squadron - Paramilitary coast guard service of Taiwan -2004
 Colombia Colombian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Colombiana
1922

former insignia

1927–1953
Colombian Naval Aviation
Aviación Naval
1984
Colombian National Army Aviation
Aviación del Ejército
1995
 Comoros Comoros Military Aviation Command 1976
 Congo Air Force of the Republic of Congo
Force 'Aérienne Congolaise
1992

People’s Republic of Congo Air Force
L'Armée de l'Air du Congo

1970–1992

Congolese Air Force

1961–1970
 Dem. Rep. of the Congo Air Force of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Force Aérienne du Congo

Zaire Air Force

1971–1997
 Costa Rica Air Surveillance Service
Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea (SVA) – Fuerza Pública
1994

Air Section of the Costa Rican Civil Guard
Sección Aérea del Guardia Civil

1955-1994

Costa Rican Military Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Militar

1947–1949
 Côte d'Ivoire
(Ivory Coast)
Côte d'Ivoire Air Force
Force Aérienne de la Côte d'Ivoire
c. 1965
 Croatia Croatian Air Force and Air Defense
Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo i protuzračna obrana
1991

former insignia

1991–1994

Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia
Zrakoplovstvo Nezavisne Države Hrvatske

1941–1945
 Cuba Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force[18]
Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria
1959

Cuban Rebel Air Force[19]
Fuerza Aérea Rebelde

1958

Cuban Army Air Force
Fuerza Aérea del Ejército de Cuba

1952–1958

Cuban Army Air Corps
Cuerpo Aéreo del Ejército de Cuba

1915–1952
Cuban Naval Aviation[20]
Aviación Naval
1934-1952
 Cyprus Air Command of Cyprus
Διοίκηση Αεροπορίας Κύπρου
1996

Cyprus National Guard Air Wing

1973–1996
 Czech Republic Czech Air Force
Vzdušné síly armády České republiky
1993

Czechoslovak Air Force
Československé letectvo
Czechoslovak Army

1926–1993


1921–1926


1918–1921

D

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Denmark Royal Danish Air Force
Flyvevåbnet
1950

Danish Navy Air Squadron[21]
Søværnets Helikoptertjeneste

2003-2010

Royal Danish Army Flying Service[22]
Hærens Flyvetjeneste (HFT)

1971-2003

Royal Danish Navy Flying Service
Søværnets Flyvetjeneste (SVF)

1962–2003

Danish Brigade in Sweden

1943-1945

Royal Danish Army Air Corps
Hærens Flyvertropper

1912–1950

Royal Danish Naval Aviation
Marinens Flyvevæsen

1911–1950
Air Force Home Guard
Home Guard (Denmark), Danish Defence
1953
 Djibouti
(formerly the French Territory of Afars and Issas)
Djibouti Air Force
Force Aérienne du Djibouti
1977
 Dominican Republic Dominican Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Dominicana (FAD)
1962

Dominican Military Aviation
Aviación Militar Dominicana (AMD)

1957–1962

Dominican Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Dominicana (FAD)

1955–1957

Dominican Military Aviation
Aviación Militar Dominicana (AMD)

1952–1955

Dominican Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Dominicana (FAD)

1950–1952

Dominican Military Aviation Corps (DMAC)
El Cuerpo de Aviación Militar Dominicana (CAMD/AMD)

1948-1950
Air Cavalry Squadron
Escuadrón de Caballería Aérea (EdCA)
2002

Air Transport Cavalry Brigade
Brigada de Caballería Aerotransportada

2001–2002

Aviation Company of the National Army
Compañía de Aviación del Ejército Nacional

1942–1948[23]

Dominican Army Aviation Company
Compañía de Aviación del Ejército Dominicano

1939-1942

Aviation Detachment of the National Army
Destacamento de Aviación del Ejército Nacional

1936–1939

National Air Transport Company, Aviation Arm
Compañía Nacional de Transporte Aérea, Arma de Aviación

1934–1935

Aviation Company
Compañía de Aviación

1933-1934

Aviation Arm of the National Army
Arma de Aviación del Ejército Nacional

1932–1933
Dominican Republic Naval Aviation Corps
Cuerpo de Aviación Naval Dominicana
2003

Coastguard Search and Rescue Squadron
Escuadrón de Vigilancia y Rescate de Guardacostas

1951-1952[24]

E

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 East Timor Timor Leste Defence Force Air Component 2020
 Ecuador Ecuadorian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana
1944
Ecuadorian Naval Aviation
Aviación Naval Ecuatoriana
1967
Ecuadorian Army Aviation
Aviación del Ejército Ecuatoriano
1954
 Egypt Egyptian Air Force
Al Quwwat Al Jawwiya Il Misriya
1961

United Arab Republic Air Force
Armed Forces of the United Arab Republic

1958–1961[25]

former insignia

1952-1958

Royal Egyptian Air Force

1937–1952

Egyptian Army Air Force

1932–1937

former insignia

1932
 El Salvador Air Force of El Salvador
Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña
1923
 Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea Air Corps 1979
 Eritrea Eritrean Air Force 1994
 Estonia Estonian Air Force
Eesti Õhuvägi
1991

Aviation Regiment

1920?–1940

Aviation Company

1918–1920?
National Border Guard Aviation Group
Estonian Border Guard
1993-2010
 Eswatini
(formerly Swaziland)
Military of Eswatini Air Wing 1979

Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force Air Wing

1979-2018
 Ethiopia Ethiopian Air Force
Ye Ithopya Ayer Hayl
1975[26]

former air force insignia

1996-2009?

Ethiopian Air Force

1975 (re-established in 1995)

Ethiopian Air Force

1975 (disestablished in 1991)

Imperial Ethiopian Air Force

1946–1975

Imperial Ethiopian Aviation

1929-1935
Ethiopian Navy aviation 1955–1996
Ethiopian Ground Forces Aviation 1970s

F

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Fiji Air Wing of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces 1987–1997
 Finland Finnish Air Force
Suomen ilmavoimat
Finländska flygvapnet
1918

former insignia

1918-1945

Roundel variant on some aircraft

1943–45

Army Corps of Aviation

1918–1928
Finnish Army Aviation
Suomen maavoimat – Helikopteripataljoona
Finländska armén – Helikopterbataljonen
1997
Finnish Border Guards
Finnish Defence Forces wartime only
 France French Air and Space Force
Armée de l'Air et de l’Espace
2020

French Air Force
Armée de l'Air

1933–2020

Free French Air Force[27][28]
Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres

1940–1945

Vichy French Air Force
Armée de l'air de l'armistice

1940–1942

French Air Force
Armée de l'Air

1933-1940

French Army Aviation
Aéronautique militaire

1909–1933
French Naval Aviation
Aéronautique navale
1912

Free French Naval Air Service
Aéronavale Francaise Libre

1940–1945

French Naval Air Arm

1912–1940
French Army Light Aviation
Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre
1954

French Aerostatic Corps
French Revolutionary Army

1794-1799
National Gendarmerie aviation 1943

G

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Gabon Gabonese Air Force
Armée de l'Air Gabonaise
1961
 Gambia
(formerly part of the Senegambia Confederation)
Gambian Air Force[29] c.2003?[30]
 Georgia The Aviation and Air Defence Command of the Defence Forces
თავდაცვის ძალების ავიაციისა და საჰაერო თავდაცვის სარდლობა
tavdatsvis dzalebis aviatsiisa da sahaero tavdatsvis sardloba
2016

Georgian Air Force
საქართველოს სამხედრო-საჰაერო ძალები
sak’art’velos samxedro-sahaero dzalebi

1991-2010

Democratic Republic of Georgia People's Guard air detachment

1917–1920
 Germany German Air Force
Luftwaffe
1955

Air Forces of the National People's Army
Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee der DDR
National People's Army

1956–1990

Volkspolizei-Luft (of the German Democratic Republic / East Germany)

1950–1956

German Air Force
Luftwaffe
Wehrmacht

1935-1945

Lipetsk fighter-pilot school

1926-1933

Marineluftschiffe-Abteilung

1912–1919

Die Marinefliegerabteilung des deutschen Kaiserreiches

1911–1919

Imperial German Army Air Service
Luftstreitkräfte (Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches)

1910–1919

former insignia

1913–1914

Heeresluftschiffe-Abteilung

1909–1917
German Naval Aviation
Marineflieger
1957

East German Navy, Naval Air Force

–1990

Imperial German Naval Air Service
Marine-Fliegerabteilung

–1918
German Army Aviation Corps
Heeresfliegertruppe
1957
Federal Border Guards
Bundesgrezschutz
-2005

Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic

-1990
 Ghana
(formerly the Gold Coast)
Ghana Air Force 1959

former insignia

1964-1966
 Greece Hellenic Air Force
Πολεμική Αεροπορία (literally "War Aviation")
Polemikì Aeroporia
1930

Greek Air Force in the Middle East

1941-1946

Royal Hellenic Air Force

1935-1973

Hellenic Army Air Service

1912-1930

Hellenic Naval Air Service

1915–1930
Hellenic Army Aviation
Αεροπορία Στρατού
Aeroporia Stratou
1947
Navy Aviation Command 2018

Hellenic Navy Helicopter Command
Διοίκηση Ελικοπτέρων Ναυτικού
Dioikisi Elikopteron Naftikou

1975-2018
Hellenic Coast Guard aviation - Paramilitary coast guard service of Greece.
 Guatemala Guatemalan Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca (FAG)
1948

Military Aeronautical Corps
Cuerpo de Aeronáutica Militar (CAM)

1935–1948

Guatemalan Military Aviation Corps
Cuerpo de Aviación Militar de Guatemala (CAM)

1929–1935

Guatemalan Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca (FAG)

1921–1929

Army Aviation Corps
Cuerpo de Aviación de Ejército

1914–1921
 Guinea Guinea Air Force
Force Aérienne de Guinée
1959
 Guinea-Bissau
(formerly Portuguese Guinea)
Guinea-Bissau Air Force
Força Aérea da Guiné-Bissau
1974-2015
 Guyana
(formerly British Guyana)
Guyana Defence Force Air Command 1973

Guyana Defence Force Air Wing

1968-1973

H

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Haiti Haiti Air Corps
Corps d'Aviation d'Garde d'Haiti
1942–1994 (2013 re-establishment)

former insignia

1964–1986

former insignia

1942–1964
 Honduras Honduran Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Hondureña
1954

Air Force and Military Aviation School
Fuerza Aérea y Escuela Militar de Aviación (FAEAM)

1938-1954

Aviation Military School
Escuela Militar de Aviación (EMA)

1931–1938

National Aviation School
Escuela Nacional de Aviación (ENA)

1924–1931
 Hungary Hungarian Air Force
Magyar Légierő
1991

former insignia

1990-1991

Air Force of the Hungarian People's Army
Magyar Néphadsereg légiereje

1951–1990

former insignia

1949-1951

former insignia

1948-1949

Royal Hungarian National Defense Air Force
Magyar Királyi Honvéd Légierő

1941–1945

former insignia

1938-1941

former insignia

1919-1923

Red Hungarian Air Corps
Vörös Légjárócsapat

1919

Insignia variant

Insignia variant

I

[edit]

For Ivory Coast, see Côte d'Ivoire above.

Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Iceland Icelandic Coast Guard Aeronautical Division
Landhelgisgæsla Íslands – Flugdeild
1955

Icelandic aircraft insignia

 India Indian Air Force 1932

Royal Indian Air Force

1947–1950

former insignia

1942–1945

Indian Air Force

1932–1942
Army Aviation Corps 1986
Indian Naval Air Arm 1948
Indian Coast Guard Air Wing 1978

Indian Coast Guard aircraft insignia

Border Security Force aviation
Paramilitary forces of India
 Indonesia Indonesian Air Force
Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU)
1946

Republic of Indonesia Air Force
Angkatan Udara Republik Indonesia (AURI)

1946–1974

Republic of Indonesia Air Force
Angkatan Udara Republik Indonesia (AURI)

1946–1949
Indonesian Naval Aviation
Dinas Penerbangan TNI Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL)
1974

Indonesian Naval Aviation Service
Dinas Penerbangan Angkatan Laut RI (ALRI)

1956–1974
Indonesian Army Aviation Command
Pusat Penerbangan TNI Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD)
1974

Indonesian Army Aviation Service
Dinas Penerbangan Angkatan Darat RI (DINAS PENERBAD)

1959–1974
 Iran
(formerly Persia)
Air Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

IRGC Ground Forces Aviation

1985
Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
نیروی هوایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران
1979

Imperial Iranian Air Force
نیروی هوایی شاهنشاهی ایران

1932–1979

Air Officer of the Imperial Iranian Army

1922-1932
Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation 1979

Imperial Iranian Army Aviation

1962–1979
Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Aviation 1979

Imperial Iranian Navy Aviation

–1979
 Iraq Iraqi Air Force
Al Quwwa al-Jawwiya al-Iraqiya
1931

former insignia

2011-2019

Iraqi Air Force
Al Quwwa al-Jawwiya al-Iraqiya

1958-2003; 2019-

Royal Iraqi Air Force

1931–1958
Iraqi Army Aviation Command 1980
Peshmerga aviation
 Ireland Irish Air Corps
Aer-Chór na h-Éireann
1924

former insignia

1939–1954

Irish National Army, Air Service

1922–1924
 Israel Israeli Defence Force / Air Force
חיל האוויר
Heyl Ha'Avir
1951

Israeli Air Force
Chel Ha'Avir

1948-1951

Sherut Avir
Air Service

1947-1948

Palavir
Air Companies

1943-1947
 Palestine

Force 14

late 1960s-early 2000s
 Italy Italian Air Force
Aeronautica Militare
1991-current

former insignia

1946–1991

Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force
Aviazione Cobelligerante and Aeronautica Militare Italiana

1943–1964

Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana  [32]

1943–1945

Royal Italian Air Force
Regia Aeronautica [33]

1935–1943

Royal Italian Air Force
Regia Aeronautica [34]

1923–1935

Royal Naval Aviation
Aviazione della Regia Marina

1912–1923

Military Air Corps [35]
Corpo Aeronautico Militare
Royal Italian Army

1915-1923

Colonial Aviation Service
Servizio d'Aviazone Coloniale

1912-1915

Military Aviation Service

1912-1915

Aviation Battalion
Battaglione Aviatori

1912

Royal Army Air Service
Servizio Aeronautico

1884[36]–1911
Italian Navy Aviation
Aviazione Navale
1956

naval aviation insignia

Italian aircraft insignia

Italian Army Aviation
Air Cavalry, Cavalleria dell'Aria
2000

Aviazione Leggera dell'Esercito

1951-2000
Helicopter Service of the Carabinieri Corps
Nucleo Elicotteri Carabinieri
1965
Italian Coast Guard Air Service
Italian Navy
1989
Guardia di Finanza
Finance Guard - Paramilitary border guard and customs service of Italy.

J

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Jamaica Jamaica Defence Force 1963
 Japan Japan Air Self-Defense Force[37]
航空自衛隊 Kōkū Jieitai
1954

Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
大日本帝国陸軍航空隊 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun Kōkū tai

1912–1945

Imperial Japanese Naval Air Service[38]
大日本帝国海軍航空隊 Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun Kōkū tai

1912–1945
Fleet Air Force (JMSDF)
海上自衛隊 Kaijō Jieitai
1954
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
陸上自衛隊 Rikujō Jieitai
1954
Japan Coast Guard - Paramilitary coast guard service of Japan.
 Jordan
(formerly Transjordan)
Royal Jordanian Air Force
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya Almalakiya al-Urduniya
1955

Arab Legion Air Force

1949–1955

K

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Kazakhstan Kazakh Air Defense Forces
Áue qurǵanysy kúshteri / Әуе қорғанысы күштері
1992
 Kenya Kenya Air Force
Jeshi la Anga la Kenya
1994

The Kenya '82 Air Force

1982-1994
Kenya Army Aviation
 Korea (DPRK/“North Korea”) Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force[39] 1945
 Korea (ROK/“South Korea”) Republic of Korea Air Force[40]
대한민국 공군 (大韓民國空軍)
Daehan Minguk Gonggun
1949

former insignia

1951–2000

Willows Korean Aviation School

1920-1921
Republic of Korea Navy, Air Wing Six 1986

Fleet Aviation Unit

1977–1986
Republic of Korea Army aviation 1965
Korea Coast Guard - Paramilitary coast guard service of South Korea.
 Kuwait Kuwait Air Force
Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya
1988

Free Kuwait Air Force

1990-1991

Kuwait Air Force

1960-1990

Directorate of Public Security, Air Wing

1954-1960
 Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyz Air Force 1992

L

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Laos Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force[41] 1975

former insignia

1975–

Royal Lao Air Force
Aviation Royale Laotienne
Royal Lao Armed Forces[42][43]

1960–1975

Laotian Aviation
Aviation Laotienne

1955-1960
 Latvia Latvian Air Force
Latvijas Gaisa Spēki
1991

Latvian Air Force
Latvijas Gaisa Spēki

1919–1940
Aviation component of the Latvian National Guard 1993–2000

Aviation Regiment of the Aizsargi

1937-1940
State Border Guard aviation - Armed border guard service of Latvia.
 Lebanon Lebanese Air Force
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnania, Force Aérienne Libanaise
1949
 Lesotho
(formerly Basutoland)
Lesotho Defence Force – Air Squadron c. 1988

former insignia

1987–2006

Lesotho Police Mobile Unit – Air Wing

1978-1988
 Liberia Liberian Army Air Wing 1987

Liberian Army Air Reconnaissance Unit

1970s–1980s
 Libya Libyan Air Force
القوة الجوية الليبية
Al-quwwa al-jawwiyya al-libyya
2011–current date

Free Libyan Air Force
Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Libiyya al Hurra[citation needed]

2011

Air Force of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

1977-2011

Libyan Arab Republic Air Force

1969–1977

Royal Libyan Air Force
Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya al Libiyya

1951–1969
 Lithuania Lithuanian Air Force
Karinės Oro Pajėgos
1922–1940, 1992

Lithuanian Military Aviation

1920–1921

former insignia

1919–1920
Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces, Aviation Unit 1992
Lithuanian State Border Guard Service aviation
Lithuanian Armed Forces wartime only
 Luxembourg Luxembourg Army Aviation 1952–1968

M

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 North Macedonia Air Force of North Macedonia
Военно Воздухопловство и Противвоздушна Одбрана
Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo i Protivvozdushna Odbrana
1992

former insignia

early 1990s
 Madagascar
(formerly the Malagasy Republic)
Malagasy Air Force
Tafika Anabakabaka Malagasy
Armée de l'Air Malgache
1961
 Malawi
(formerly Nyasaland)
Malawi Army Air Wing 1976

former aircraft insignia

2010-2012

Malawi Young Pioneers Air Arm[44]

1970–1978
 Malaysia
(formerly Malaya)
Royal Malaysian Air Force
Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia
1963

insignia variant

Royal Malayan Air Force
Tentera Udara Diraja Persekutuan

1958–1963

Malayan Auxiliary Air Force

1950–1958

Malayan Volunteer Air Force

1940–1950
Royal Malaysian Navy Aviation 1988
Malaysian Army Aviation
Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat
1994
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency - Paramilitary coast guard service of Malaysia.
 Maldives MNDF Air Corps
Maldives National Defence Force
2024
 Mali Malian Air Force
Force Aérienne de la Republique du Mali
1961
 Malta Air Wing of the Armed Forces of Malta
Skwadra tal-Ajru tal-Forzi Armati ta' Malta
1992

former insignia

1980–1988
 Mauritania Mauritania Islamic Air Force
Force Aérienne de la Republique Islamique de Mauritanie
1960

former aircraft insignia

1960-2019
 Mauritius Military of Mauritius 1987
 Mexico Mexican Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Mexicana
1915
Mexican Naval Aviation
Fuerza Aeronaval
1926[45]
Maritime Search and Rescue (Mexico)
Mexican Navy
National Guard (Mexico) aviation - national gendarmerie force of Mexico.

Federal Police (Mexico) aviation - Defunct National police and gendarmerie service of Mexico.

-2009
 Moldova Moldovan Air Force[46] 1991
 Mongolia Mongolian Air Force[47]
Агаарын Довтолгооноос Хамгаалах Цэргийн Командлал
1993-presents

Mongolian People's Army Air Force
Монголын Ардын Армийн Нисэх Хүчин

1925–1992
 Montenegro Montenegrin Air Force
Vazdušne snage Crne Gore
2006

former insignia

2006-2018
 Morocco Royal Moroccan Air Forceⴰⴷⵡⴰⵙ ⴰⴳⴻⵍⴷⴰⵏ ⴰⵎⴻⵔⵔⵓⴽⴰⵏ ⵓⵊⴻⵏⵏⴰ
القوة الجوية الملكية المغربية
Al-quwwa al-jawwiya al-malikiyya al-maghribiyya
(Force Aérienne Royale Marocaine)
1961

Sherifan Royal Aviation
Aviation Royale Chérifienne

1956–1961
Royal Moroccan Navy, Aviation
Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie 1962
 Mozambique Mozambique Air Force
Força Aérea de Moçambique
c.1976/77?

People's Liberation Air Force of Mozambique
Força Populare Aérea de Libertação de Moçambique

1975–c.1976/77?
 Myanmar
(formerly Burma)
Myanmar Air Force
Tatmdaw Lei
1989

Burmese Air Force

1947-1989

N

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Namibia
(formerly South West Africa)
Namibian Air Force 2005

Namibia Defence Force Air Wing

1994–2005

South West African Territorial Force, Air Wing

1980–1989
 NATO Allied Air Command 2013
   Nepal Nepalese Army Air Service c.2008

Royal Nepal Army Air Wing

1979–c.2007

Royal Nepal Army Air Service

1965–1979
 Netherlands Royal Netherlands Air Force
Koninklijke Luchtmacht
1953

Free Dutch Air Force

1940–1945

Army Aviation Brigade
Luchtvaartbrigade

1939–1940

former insignia

1921–1940

Army Aviation Group
Luchtvaartafdeling

1913–1939
Dutch Naval Aviation Service
Marineluchtvaartdienst
1917

former insignia

1942–c.1945

former insignia

1939–1942

former insignia

1921–1940

former insignia

1917–1921
Netherlands Coastguard
Royal Netherlands Navy
Netherlands Dutch Caribbean Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard
Royal Netherlands Navy
 New Zealand Royal New Zealand Air Force
Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa
1937

 

former insignia

1943–1946

former insignia

1939–1945

New Zealand Territorial Air Force

1930–1957

New Zealand Permanent Air Force

1923–1934

New Zealand Army Flying Corps

1913–1923
 Nicaragua Nicaraguan Army Air Force
Fuerza Aérea – Ejército de Nicaragua
1996

Sandinista Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Sandinista

1979–1996

Air Force of Nicaragua
Fuerza Aérea de Nicaragua

c.1950–1979

former insignia (fuselage)

1962–1979

Guard Air Force of Nicaragua
Fuerza Aérea Guardia de Nicaragua

c.1947–c.1950

former insignia (wings)

1938-1962

Air Force of the National Guard
Fuerza Aérea de la Guardia Nacional

1938–c.1947

Air Corps of the National Guard
Cuerpo de Aviación de la Guardia Nacional

1936–1938

Military Aviation Corps
Cuerpo Militar de Aviación

1926–1936

National Guard
Guardia Nacional

1920–1926
 Niger National Squadron of Niger
Escadrille Nationale du Niger
2003

Niger Air Force
Force Aérienne du Niger

1961–2003?
 Nigeria Nigerian Air Force 1964

insignia variant

Nigerian Navy, Air Arm 1985
Nigerian Army Aviation Corps 2024
 Norway Royal Norwegian Air Force
Luftforsvaret
1944

Free Norwegian Air Force

1940-1944

Norwegian Army Air Service
Hærens Flyvevesen

1914–1944

Royal Norwegian Navy Air Service
Marinens Flyvevesen

1912–1944

O

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Oman
(formerly Muscat and Oman)
Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO)[48]
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanya al-Omanya
1990

Sultan of Oman's Air Force (SOAF)

1959–1990

P

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Pakistan Pakistan Air Force
پاک فضائيہ
1956

Royal Pakistan Air Force

1947–1956
Pakistan Army Aviation Corps 1958
Pakistan Naval Air Arm 1971
 Panama Panamanian National Aeronaval Service
Panama Servicio Aéreo Nacional
1989

Panamaian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Panama

1969-1989
 Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Air Wing 1990s

Papua New Guinea Defence Force, Air Transport Wing

1975-1990s
 Paraguay Paraguayan Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Paraguaya
1946

Paraguaryan Army Aviation Corps

1920s–1940s
Paraguayan Naval Aviation
Aviación Naval Paraguaya[49][50]
1980
 Peru Peruvian Air Force
Fuerza Aérea del Perú
1950

Peruvian Aeronautical Corps
Cuerpo Aeronáutico del Perú

1936–1950

Peruvian Aviation Corps
Cuerpo de Aviación del Perú

1929–1936
Peruvian Naval Aviation
Fuerza Aviación Naval
1980

Aeronaval Service
Servicio Aeronaval

1963–1980
Peruvian Army, Aviation
Aviación del Ejército
1977

Army Light Aviation Group
Grupo de Aviación Ligera del Ejército

1973–1977
Peruvian Coast Guard
Peruvian Navy
 Philippines Philippine Air Force
ᜑᜒᜃ᜔ᜊᜒᜅ᜔ ᜑᜒᜋ᜔ᜉᜉᜏᜒᜇ᜔ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜉᜒᜎᜒᜉᜒᜈᜐ᜔
Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas
1947

Philippine Army Air Corps

1936–1947

Philippine Constabulary Air Corps

1935–1936

Philippine National Guard Aviation

1917–1935
Philippine Navy Naval Air Wing 2019

Philippine Navy Naval Air Group

1975–2019
Philippine Army Aviation Regiment 2019

Philippine Army Aviation Battalion

1980–2019
Philippine Coast Guard Aviation Force 1998

Philippine Coast Guard racing stripe

Philippine National Police Special Action Force Air Unit
 Poland Polish Air Force
Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
2004

Air and Air Defence Forces
Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej

1993–2004

 

1990–1993

Air Force
Wojska Lotnicze

1962-1990

Polish Air Defence Force of Country
Wojska Obrony Powietrznej Kraju

1962–1990

Air and Air Defence Forces of Country
Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Przeciwlotniczej Obszaru Kraju

1954–1962

Air Force
Wojska Lotnicze

1947–1954

Air Force of the Polish Army
Lotnictwo Wojska Polskiego
Polish People's Army

1945–1947

Air Force of the Polish Army
Lotnictwo Wojska Polskiego
Polish Armed Forces in the East

1943-1945

Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain
Polish Armed Forces in the West

1939-1946

Air Force
Wojska Lotnicze
Polish Armed Forces (Second Polish Republic)

1918–1939

I Polish Corps in Russia Aviation
Russian Army (1917)

1917-1918
Polish Army Aviation
Lotnictwo Wojsk Lądowych
1994
Polish Naval Aviation
Lotnictwo Marynarki Wojennej
1947
Polish Border Guards - Paramilitary border guard service of Poland. 1990
 Portugal Portuguese Air Force
Força Aérea Portuguesa
1952

Military Aeronautics Arm
Arma da Aeronáutica Militar

1924-1952

 

1918-1924

Military Aeronautical Service
Serviço Aeronáutico Militar

1914-1918

Balloon Company
Companhia de Aerosteiros

1911-1914
Portuguese Naval Aviation
Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha
1993

Aeronaval Forces
Forças Aeronavais

1952-1957

Navy Air Forces
Forças Aéreas da Armada

1931-1952

Naval Aeronautics Service
Serviço da Aeronáutica Naval

1918-1931

Navy Aviation Service
Serviço de Aviação da Armada

1917-1918
Portuguese Army Light Aviation Unit
Unidade de Aviacão Ligeira do Exército
2000-2015

Q

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Qatar Qatar Emiri Air Force 1974

Qatar Public Security Forces Air Wing

1968-1974

R

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Romania Romanian Air Force
Forțele Aeriene Române
1989

 

1985-1989

Air Force of the Socialist Republic of Romania
Forțele Aeriene ale Republicii Socialiste România

1965-1985

Forțele Aeriene ale Republicii Populare Române

1964-1965

Forțele Aeriene ale Republicii Populare Romîne

1954-1964

Air Force of the People's Republic of Romania
Forțele Aeriene ale Republicii Populare Române

1949-1954

 

1944-1949

Romanian Royal Aeronautics
Aeronautica Regală Română

1941-1944

 

1924-1941

Romanian Air Corps
Corpul de Aviație

1915-1924

Romanian Military Aeronautics Service
Serviciul de Aeronautică Militară

1913-1915

Military Aerostation[51]
Aerostația Militară

1893-1913
Romanian Naval Aviation 2006

 

1949-1960

Seaplane Flotilla
Flotila de Hidroaviație

1930-1949

 

1941-1944

Maritime Air Corps[52]
Corpul de Aviație Maritimă

1920-1930
 Russia Russian Air Force[53][failed verification]
Военно-воздушные cилы России
Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily Rossii
2010

Russian Air Defence Force

1991-2008

Soviet Air Defence Force
Soviet Armed Forces

1948-1991

Soviet Air Forces
Военно-воздушные силы
Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily
Soviet Armed Forces

1918-1991

 

1922–1943

Imperial Russian Air Service
Императорский военно-воздушный флот
Pre-reform Russian:Императорскій военно-воздушный флотъ

1910-1917
Russian Naval Aviation
Авиация Военно-Морского Флота
Aviatsiya Voyenno-Morskogo Flota
2010

 

1991-2010

Soviet Naval Aviation

1918-1991

 

1922–1943
Russian Army Aviation 1992-2010s

Soviet Army Aviation

1970s–1991
National Guard of Russia
Border Service of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation 1992

Soviet Border Troops aviation

-1992
 Rwanda
(formerly Ruanda-Urundi)
Rwandan Air Force
Force Aérienne Rwandaise
1972

S

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Saudi Arabia Royal Saudi Air Force
القوات الجوية الملكية السعودية
Al-Quwwāt al-Jawwiyyah al-Malakiyyah as-Suʿūdiyyah
1950

Hejaz Air Force

1921-1932
Royal Saudi Naval Aviation 1985
Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation 1990s
General Security Aviation Command 1975
Saudi Arabian National Guard, Aviation 2011
 Senegal
(formerly part of the Senegambia Confederation)
Senegalese Air Force
Armée de l'Air du Sénégal
1989

Senegambia Air Force
Armée de l'Air du Sénegambia

1982-1989

Senegalese Air Force
Armée de l'Air du Senégal

1961-1982
 Serbia Serbian Air Force and Air Defence
Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздухопловна одбрана Војске Србије
Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazduhoplovna odbrana Vojske Srbije
2006[54]

Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro
Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздушна одбрана Војске Србије и Црне Горе
Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana Vojske Srbije i Crne Gore

2003–2006[55]

Air Force of FR Yugoslavia
Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздушна одбрана Војске Југославије
Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana Vojske Jugoslavije

1992–2003

Royal Yugoslav Army Air Force
Ваздухопловство војске Краљевине Југославије
Vazduhoplovstvo vojske Kraljevine Jugoslavije

1929–1941

Yugoslav Royal Army Aviation Department
Авиацијско Одељење Југословенске Краљевске Армије
Aviacijsko Odeljenje Jugoslovenske Kraljevske Armije

1918–1929

Serbian Aviation
Српска Авијатика
Srpska Avijatika

1915-1918[56]


Air Force Command
Ваздухопловна Команда
Vazduhoplovna Komanda

1912-1915
Royal Yugoslav Navy, Naval Air Service -1941
 Seychelles Seychelles People's Defence Force Air Wing (part of the Seychelles People's Defence Force) 2008

Seychelles Defence Force Air Wing

1978
 Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Defence Force Air Force 1973
 Singapore Link to file Republic of Singapore Air Force
Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura
新加坡空军部队
சிங்கப்பூர் ஆகாயப்படை
1975

Singapore Air Defence Command

1968-1975

former insignia

1968-1973

Singapore Wing, Malayan Auxiliary Air Force

1950-1960

Straits Settlements Volunteer Air Force

1936-1941
 Slovakia Slovak Air Force
Vzdušné sily Slovenskej republiky
1993

Slovak Insurgent Air Force
Slovenské povstalecké letectvo

August–October 1944

Slovak Air Force
Slovenské vzdušné zbrane

1939-1945

former insignia

1939-1940
 Slovenia Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence
Brigada zračne Obrambe in Letalstva Slovenske Vojske
2004

15th Aviation Brigade
Slovenian Armed Forces

1995-2004

15th Aviation Brigade
Slovenian Territorial Defence Force

1991-1995

Slovenian Air Force upon the break-away from the Habsburg Empire

1918-1919
 Somalia Somali Air Force
Ciidamada Cirka Soomaaliyeed[57]
1960

Somali Aeronautical Corps
Ciidamada Cirka Soomaaliyeed
Corpo di Sicurezza della Somalia

1954-1968
Puntland Maritime Police Force
Somali Navy
 South Africa South African Air Force (SAAF)
Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag
1920

 

1982-2003

South African Air Force
South African Defence Force

1958-1981

 

1947-1957

South African Air Force
Union Defence Force (South Africa)

1924-1947

former insignia

1920-1921

South African Aviation Corps

1915-1920
 South Sudan South Sudan Air Force 2011
 Spain Spanish Air and Space Force (SASF)
Ejército del Aire y del Espacio
2022

Spanish Air Force (SPAF)
Ejército del Aire

1939-2022

Nationalist Air Force[58]
Aviación Nacional

1936-1939

Nationalist Air Force insignia (wings)

1937-1939

Nationalist Air Force insignia variant

1936-1939

Spanish Republican Air Force
Fuerzas Aéreas de la República Española (FARE)
Spanish Republican Armed Forces

1936-1939

Military Aviation
Aeronáutica Militar Española

1931-1936

Military Aviation
Aeronáutica Militar Española

1911-1931

Military Aerostatics Service
Servicio Militar de Aerostacion

1896-1911
Spanish Army Airmobile Force
Fuerzas Aeromóviles del Ejército de Tierra (FAMET)
1973

Army Light Air Force
Aviacion Ligera del Ejercito de Tierra

1965-1973
Spanish Navy Air Arm
Arma Aérea de la Armada
1954

Naval Aviation
Aeronáutica Naval

1931-1936

Naval Aviation
Aeronáutica Naval

1917-1931
Civil Guard Aviation
Guardia Civil - Under the authority of both the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of the Interior.
 Sri Lanka
(formerly Ceylon)
Sri Lanka Air Force
ශ්රි ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව
Sri Lanka Guwan Hamudawa
1972

Royal Ceylon Air Force
රාජකීය ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව
Rajakeeya Lanka Guwan Hamudawa

1951-1972
 Sudan
(formerly the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan)
Sudanese Air Force
القوّات الجوّيّة السودانيّة
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya As-Sudaniya
1956

former insignia

1956-1970
 Suriname
(formerly Dutch Guyana)
Suriname Air Force
Surinaamse Luchtmacht
1982

former insignia

1982-1990s
 Sweden Swedish Air Force
Svenska Flygvapnet
1926

former insignia

1937-1940

Swedish Air Force
Svenska Flygvapnet

1926-1937

Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing[59]
Försvarsmaktens helikopterflottilj

1998-2003

Swedish Army Aviation
Arméflyget

1954-1998

former insignia

1914-1915

Aircraft Coy of the Signal Corps
Flygkompaniet

1912-1926

Swedish Naval Aviation
Marinflyget

1958-1998

Naval Air Service
Marinens Flygväsen

1911-1926
Swedish Volunteer Air Corps
Home Guard (Sweden), Swedish Armed Forces
1961
  Switzerland Swiss Air Force
Schweizer Luftwaffe
Forces Aériennes Suisses
Forze Aeree Svizzere
1946

Lufttransportdienst des Bundes

1938-2005

Independent service under the Swiss Federal Military Department
Schweizerische Flugwaffe

1936-1946

Swiss Army Aviation
Schweizerische Fliegertruppe

1914-1936
 Syria Syrian Arab Air Force
القوات الجوية العربية السورية
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al Arabiya as-Souriya
1961

former insignia

1972-1980

former insignia

1963-1972

United Arab Republic Air Force
Armed Forces of the United Arab Republic

1958-1961[25]

Syrian Air Force

1948-1958

T

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Tajikistan Tajik Air Force 2006[60]
 Tanzania
(formerly Tanganyika)
Tanzania Air Force Command
Jeshi la Anga la Wananchi wa Tanzania
1964

former insignia

1964-2010
 Thailand
(formerly Siam)
Royal Thai Air Force
กองทัพอากาศไทย
Kongthap Akat Thai
1937

Former marking

1942-1945[61]

Former marking

1940-1941

Royal Siamese Air Force Division
กรมทหารอากาศ
Krom Tahan Akat

1935-1937

Royal Siamese Air Division
กรมอากาศยาน
Krom Akatsayan

1921-1935

Siamese Army Aviation Division
กรมอากาศยานทหารบก
Krom Akatsayan Tahan Bok

1917-1921

Siamese Army Aviation Unit
กองบินทหารบก
Kong Bin Tahan Bok

1914-1917
Royal Thai Army Aviation Center
กองบินทหารบกไทย
Kong Bin Tahan Bok Thai
1977
Royal Thai Naval Air Division
กองการบินทหารเรือไทย
Kongkanbin Tahan Ruea Thai
1921
 Tonga Tongan Air Wing 1996[62]
 Togo Togolese Air Force
Force Aérienne Togolaise
1964[63]
 Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Air Guard 2005

Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Air Wing

1977-2005

Air Wing of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Coast Guard

1966-1977
 Tunisia Tunisian Air Force
القوات الجوية التونسية
Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya At'Tunisia
1959[64]
Tunisian National Guard aviation - National gendarmerie force of Tunisia.
 Turkey Turkish Air Force
Türk Hava Kuvvetleri
1972

former insignia

1944-1972

Turkish Ministry of Defense,
Undersecretariat of Military Aviation
Hava Müsteşarlığı

1928-1944

Turkish Air Force Inspectorate
Hava Kuvvetleri Müfettişliği

1922-1928

Turkish Air Force General Directorate
Kuva-yı Havaiye Müdüriyet-i Umumiyesi

1921-1922

Turkish Army Air Service
Kuva-yı Havaiye Şubesi

1920-1921
Turkish Army Aviation Command
Kara Kuvvetleri Havacılık Komutanlığı
1948
Naval Forces Aviation Command
Deniz Kuvvetleri Havacılık Komutanlığı
1971

naval aviation insignia

Coast Guard Aviation Command
Sahil Güvenlik Havacılık Komutanlığı
1993

Turkish aircraft insignia

Gendarmerie Aviation Command
Jandarma Havacılık Komutanlığı
1968
 Turkmenistan Turkmen Air Force 1991

former insignia

1991-2011

U

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Uganda Uganda Air Force 2005

Uganda Police Air Wing

1964–1987

Uganda Army Air Force

1964-1987
 Ukraine Ukraine Air Force
Військово-Повітряні Сили України Viys'kovo-Povitriani Syly Ukrayiny
1992

Ukrainian Air Defence Forces

1992-2004

Air Fleet of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine

1918-1921

Ukrainian People's Republic Air Fleet

1917-1921
Ukrainian Naval Aviation
Авіація Військово-Морських Сил Aviatsiya Viys'kovo-Mors'kykh Syl
1992
Ukrainian Army Aviation 1992
National Guard of Ukraine, Aviation 2014
State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Aviation 2003
 United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Air Force 1976[65]

Sharjah Amiri Guard Air Wing

1984-1997

Dubai Police Air Wing

1973-1976

Dubai Union Defence Force Air Wing

1971-1973

Abu Dhabi Air Force

1972-1976

Abu Dhabi Defence Force Air Wing

1968-1972
United Arab Emirates Navy, Aviation
 United Kingdom Royal Air Force 1918

insignia variant

former insignia

1942-1947

former insignia

1942-1945

Royal Air Force

1918-1937

former insignia

1915-1918

Royal Flying Corps

1912-1915

Air Battalion of the Royal Engineers

1911-1912

School of Ballooning

1888-1911
Fleet Air Arm 1937

insignia variant

former insignia

1944-1945

former insignia

1942-1947

former insignia

1937-1942

Fleet Air Arm of the RAF

1924-1937

Royal Naval Air Service

1914-1918

Naval Wing of the Royal Flying Corps

1912-1914
Army Air Corps[67] 1957

Glider Pilot Regiment

1941-1957
3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron
Royal Marines
1968-1995
 United States United States Air Force[68] 1947

 

1947–

United States Army Air Forces

1941-1947

former insignia

1943

former insignia

1943

former insignia

1942-1943

United States Army Air Corps

1926-1941

United States Army Air Service

1918-1926

Division of Military Aeronautics

20–24 May 1918

former insignia

1917-1919

Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps

1914-1918

Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps

1907-1914

Union Army Balloon Corps

1861-1863
United States Army Aviation Branch 1983

Army Aviation

1947-1983
United States Navy, Naval Air Forces 1911

former insignia

1943

former insignia

1917-1918

Naval Flying Corps

1916-1917
United States Marine Corps Aviation[69] 1912
United States Coast Guard 1916

US Coast Guard racing stripe

 Uruguay Uruguayan Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya
1953

Military Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Militar

1952-1953

Uruguayan Military Aviation
Aeronáutica Militar Uruguaya

1935-1952

Military School of Aeronautics
Escuela Militar de Aeronáutica

1916-1935

Military Aviation School
Escuela de Aviación Militar

1913-1916
Uruguayan Naval Aviation
Aviación Naval Uruguaya
1951

Naval Air Service
Servicio Aeronáutico

1925–1951
 Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces 1992

V

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Venezuela Venezuelan Air Force
Aviación Militar Bolivariana
2006[70]

Venezuelan Military Aviation
Aviación Militar de Venezuela

2001–2006

Venezuelan Air Force
Fuerza Aérea Venezolana

1946–2001

Army Aeronautical Service
Servicio de Aeronáutica del Ejército

1944–1946

Aviation Regiment N° 1
Regimiento de Aviación N° 1

1936–1944

Venezuelan Military Aviation School
Escuela de Aviación Militar

1920–1936
Venezuelan Army Aviation
Servicio Aéreo del Ejército Venezolano
1970
Venezuelan Naval Aviation
Aviación de la Marina Venezolana
1985

Servicio de Aviacion Naval Venezolana

1974-1985

Naval Aviation Centre

1922
National Guard of Venezuela
Comando de Apoyo Aéreo de Guardia Nacional
1999
 Vietnam Vietnam People's Air Force
Không quân Nhân dân Việt Nam
1975

Vietnam Democratic Republic Air Force

1965–1975

Vietnam Democratic Republic Air Force

1955–1965

Republic of Vietnam Air Force
Không lực Việt Nam Cộng hòa
Republic of Vietnam Military Forces

1955–1975
Naval Air Force, Vietnam People's Navy 1986
Vietnam Coast Guard, Aviation 2008–2013

Y

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Yemen Yemeni Air Force
Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Yemeniya
1990

North Yemen Air Force

1980-1990

People's Republic of South Yemen Air Force

1969–1980

People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Air Force

1980-1990

Z

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Zambia
(formerly Northern Rhodesia)
Zambian Air Force 1968

Zambia Air Wing

1964–1968

Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland Air Force

1954–1963
 Zimbabwe
(formerly Southern Rhodesia)
Air Force of Zimbabwe 1980

former insignia

1982–1994

Zimbabwe-Rhodesian Air Force

1979–1980

Rhodesian Air Force
Rhodesian Security Forces

1970–1979

Royal Rhodesian Air Force

1963–1970

Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland Air Force

1954–1963

Southern Rhodesian Air Force

1947–1954

Rhodesian Regiment Air Unit

1935–1939

Former countries and movements

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Air Force 1968–1976
 Austria-Hungary Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops
Kaiserliche und Königliche Luftfahrtruppen
1912–1919

 

1915–1918

 

1914–1916

Imperial and Royal Aviation Service
KuK. Militär-Aeronautische Anstalt

1893–1912
Austro-Hungarian Naval Air Corps
K.u.K. Seefliegerkorps
1916–1918
 Biafra Biafran Air Force 1967–1970
 Bophuthatswana Bophuthatswana Air Force 1987–1994

Bophuthatswana Defence Force Air Wing

1981-1987
 Central African Empire Central African Empire Air Force 1976–1979
 Ceylon Royal Ceylon Air Force
රාජකීය ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව
Rajakeeya Lanka Guwan Hamudawa
1951–1972
 Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Chechen National Guard aviation 1990s
Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China
(Wang Jingwei regime)
Nanjing Government air force 1941–1945
 Ciskei Ciskei Defence Force 1980–1994
 Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia Croatian Defence Council aviation 1992–
 Czechoslovakia Czech and Slovakian Air Force 1990–1993

Czechoslovak Air Force
Czechoslovak People's Army

1945–1990

Slovak Insurgent Air Force

August–October 1944

1st Czechoslovak Mixed Air Division
1st Czechoslovak Army Corps in the Soviet Union

1944-1945

Czechoslovak Air Force in the West

1940-1946

Czechoslovak Army Air Force

1918–1939

Gendarmerie (Czechoslovakia), Air Wing

1935-1939
Slovakia Slovak Republic Slovak Air Force 1939–1945
 Dahomey Dahomey Air Force
Force Aérienne de Dahomey
1961–1975
 Dubai Dubai Police Air Wing 1971-1976
 Free City of Danzig Free City of Danzig Police Air Squadron 1919-
 Free France Free French Air Force 1940–1945
Free French Naval Air Service 1940–1945
 East Germany Air Forces of the National People's Army
Luftstreitkräfte und Luftverteidigung der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik
National People's Army
1956-1990
People's Navy -1990
Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic -1990
Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik aviation
Paramilitary sports and pre-military training organization.
-1990
 Second East Turkestan Republic Ili National Army aviation 1945-1949
Haganah Sherut Avir
Air Service
1947-1948

Palavir
Air Companies

1943-1947
Republic of Ireland Irish Free state Irish National Army 1922–1924
Kingdom of Nejd and Hejaz
Kingdom of Hejaz
Hejaz Air Force[71]
القوات الجوية الحجازية
1921–1932
Iran Imperial State of Iran Imperial Iranian Air Force 1925–1979
 Italian Social Republic
Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Italy
Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana 1943–1945

Regia Aeronautica

1923–1943
Cambodia People's Republic of Kampuchea
Cambodia Democratic Kampuchea
Cambodia Kingdom of Cambodia
 Khmer Republic
Cambodian People's Air Force 1989–1993

Kampuchean People's Air Force

1979–1989

Kampuchean Revolutionary Armed Forces Air Force

1977–1979

Khmer Air Force

1970–1975
Makhnovshchina Air Fleet of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine 1918-1921
Madagascar Malagasy Republic Malagasy Air Force 1961
Malayan Union Federated Malay States /
Unfederated Malay States /
Malayan Union Malayan Union /
 Malaya
Royal Malayan Air Force 1958–1963

Malayan Auxiliary Air Force

1950–1958

Malayan Volunteer Air Force

1940-1950
 Straits Settlements

Straits Settlements Volunteer Air Force

1936-1941
 Manchukuo Manchukuo Air Force 1937–1945

Manchukuo Air Transport Company

1931-1937
Mukti Bahini Operation Kilo Flight 1971-1972
 Muscat and Oman Sultan of Oman's Air Force 1959–1990
 Germany Luftwaffe
Wehrmacht
1933–1945
Nazi Party National Socialist Flyers Corps
Paramilitary aviation organization of the Nazi Party.
1937-1945

German Air Sports Association

1933-1937
Netherlands Dutch East Indies Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force 1939-1950

Free Dutch East Indies Air Force

1942–1945
Yemen Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen/
 North Yemen/
 South Yemen
Yemen Arab Republic Air Force 1962–1990

Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen Air Force

-1962

People's Republic of South Yemen Air Force

1969–1980

People's Democratic Republic of Yemen Air Force

1980-1990
 North Vietnam North Vietnam Air Force 1955–1975
 Ottoman Empire Ottoman Air Force
Kuva-yı Havaiye Müfettişliği
1909–1920
Ottoman Naval Aviation Academy and Service
Bahriye Tayyare Mektebi ve Havacılık Şubesi
1914–1919
Laos Pathet Lao Pathet Lao aviation 1960–1975
 Southern Rhodesia
 Rhodesia and Nyasaland
 Rhodesia
 Zimbabwe Rhodesia
Rhodesian Air Force
Rhodesian Security Forces
1970–1979

Royal Rhodesian Air Force

1963–1970

Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Air Force

1954–1963

Southern Rhodesian Air Force

1939–1954

Rhodesian Regiment Air Unit

1935–1939
SenegalThe Gambia Senegambia Confederation Senegambia Air Force
Armée de l'Air du Sénégambia
1982–1989
 Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska Air Force
Army of Republika Srpska
1992–2006
Republic of Serbian Krajina 105th Aviation Brigade
Army of the Republic of Serb Krajina
1991–1995
ThailandThailand Rattanakosin Kingdom of Siam Royal Siamese Air Division 1921–1935

Siamese Army Aviation Division

1917–1921

Siamese Army Aviation Unit

1914–1917
South Africa South West Africa South West Africa Territorial Force, Air Wing 1980–1989
South Vietnam State of Vietnam /
 South Vietnam
Republic of Vietnam Air Force
Không lực Việt Nam Cộng hoà
Republic of Vietnam Military Forces
1955–1975

Vietnam National Army, Air Force

1951–1955
Federation of South Arabia Federation of South Arabia /
 South Yemen
Air Force of the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen 1967-1990

Federation of South Arabia Air Force

1967
 Swaziland Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force Air Wing 1979-2018
Russia Russian Empire
Russia Russian Provisional Government
Russia Russian Republic
 Russian SFSR
 Soviet Union
Soviet Air Forces
Soviet Armed Forces[72]
Военно-воздушные силы
1930–1991

 

1943–1992[73]

Soviet Volunteer Group

1937–1941

Imperial Russian Air Service

1910–1917
Soviet Air Defence Forces,
Soviet Armed Forces
1948–1991
Soviet Naval Aviation 1918–1991
Sovet Border Troops Aviation -1992
Russia Russian State (1918-1920)
Russia South Russia (1919-1920)
White Army Air Unites
 Tamil Eelam Air Tigers
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
1998–2009
 Transkei Transkei Defence Force, Air Wing 1986–1994
 United Arab Republic United Arab Republic Air Force 1958–1961

Egyptian Air Force

1952–1958

Syrian Air Force

1948–1958
 Upper Volta Upper Volta Air Force
Force Aérienne de Haute-Volta
1964–1984
 Venda Venda Defence Force 1983–1994
France Vichy France Vichy French Air Force 1940–1942
 West Germany German Air Force
Luftwaffe
1955
German Naval Aviation
Marineflieger
1957
German Army Aviation Corps
Heeresfliegertruppe
1957
Federal Border Guards
Bundesgrenzschutz
-2005
Ukraine West Ukrainian People's Republic Ukrainian Galician Army Aviation 1918-1919
 Ukrainian People's Republic Ukrainian People's Republic Air Fleet 1917-1921
 Kingdom of Serbia /
Kingdom of Yugoslavia State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs /
 Kingdom of Yugoslavia /
Yugoslav government-in-exile /
 Democratic Federal Yugoslavia /
 SFR Yugoslavia /
 FR Yugoslavia /
 Serbia and Montenegro
Air Force of Serbia and Montenegro
Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздушна одбрана Војске Србије и Црне Горе
Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdushna odbrana Vojske Srbije i Crne Gore,
Armed Forces of Serbia and Montenegro
2003–2006[55]

FR Yugoslavia Air Force
Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздушна одбрана Војске Југославије
Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana Vojske Jugoslavije

1992–2003

SFR Yugoslav Air Force[74]
Југословенско Ратно Ваздухопловство и Противваздушна Одбрана
Jugoslovensko Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo i Protivvazdušna Odbrana
Yugoslav People's Army

1945–1991

Yugoslav Air Force Outside the Homeland

1941–1945

Yugoslav Partisans Air Force

1941-1945

Royal Yugoslav Air Force
Ваздухопловство војске Краљевине Југославије
Vazduhoplovstvo vojske Kraljevine Jugoslavije

1929–1941

Yugoslav Royal Army Aviation Department
Авиацијско Одељење Југословенске Краљевске Армије
Aviacijsko Odeljenje Jugoslovenske Kraljevske Armije

1918–1929

Serbian Military Air Service

1912–1918
Royal Yugoslav Navy, Naval Air Service -1941
 Independent State of Croatia Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia 1941–1945

Croatian Air Force Legion

1941–1945
 Zaire
Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoRepublic of the Congo (Léopoldville)
 Belgian Congo
Zaire Air Force
Force Aerienne Zairoies
1971–1997

Congolese Air Force
Force Aeriennes Congolaises

1960–1971

former insignia

1960–1964

Force Publique Air Arm

1944–1960
 Katanga Katangese Air Force
Force Aerienne Katangaise
1960–1963

Other

[edit]
Country Current Service
Indigenous name
Former Established
 Abkhazia Abkhazian Air Force 2008

former insignia

1992–
 British Hong Kong


Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force

1951-1993


Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
Royal Air Force

1949-1951


Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps – Air Arm
Royal Air Force

1930-1949
 Republic of Artsakh
Artsakh Defense Army aviation 1990s-2023
 South Ossetia South Ossetian Air Corps 1990s
 Sovereign Military Order of Malta Military Corps of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta 1947-1950
 Transnistria Transnistrian Air Force 1991
 Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Security Forces Command 1974

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Leese, Capt. Robert. "Afghan National Army Air Corps now Afghan National Army Air Force". US Air Force, 14 June 2010. Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Operations resumed in 2002, but the new name may not have been applied until the after the 2003 defense reforms were promulgated.
  3. ^ Little is known about the Taliban regime's air force establishment.
  4. ^ The pro-Soviet regime collapsed in late April 1992 and was succeeded by the UN-sponsored government, the "Islamic State of Afghanistan", led by Burhanuddin Rabbani until overthrown by the Taliban in September 1996.
  5. ^ Official establishment occurred in 1924, but the AMAA received its first aircraft in 1921 (aside from some captured in 1919).
  6. ^ As in most cases, Argentina's air arms began as an Army formation. Following a period of service unification, the Army Aviation Command was reformed on 27 November 1956, but did not gain independence from the Air Force until 3 November 1959.
  7. ^ Date first aircraft obtained; the Barbados Defence Force itself was established in 1979.
  8. ^ The indicated roundel was introduced in 1937 – according to Иван Бориславов и Румен Кирилов, "Самолетите на България", част втора, София, 1996, стр. 246–253 (in Bulgarian; in English: Ivan Borislavov and Rumen Kirilov, "The Airplanes of Bulgaria", part two, Sofia, 1996, pages 246–253).
  9. ^ The indicated version of the German Cross was slightly modified and introduced in 1915 as most widespread Bulgarian aviation sign during the First World War along with the less employed St. Andrew's Cross – according to Иван Бориславов и Румен Кирилов, "Самолетите на България", част втора, София, 1996, стр. 246–253 (in Bulgarian; in English: Ivan Borislavov and Rumen Kirilov, "The Airplanes of Bulgaria", part two, Sofia, 1996, pages 246–253).
  10. ^ Initially operated balloons. In 1912 Bulgaria received its first airplane Bleriot XXI, with which on 13 August 1912 Simeon Petrov flew to become the first Bulgarian to pilot an airplane over Bulgaria.
  11. ^ The KPAF's name was changed to "Cambodian People's Air Force" in 1989, following the restoration of the nation's former name of Cambodia. In 1992, the PKAF was briefly resurrected as the "State of Cambodia Air Force", but it never actually became operational under that title.
  12. ^ The Vietnamese invasion of 1979 resulted in the forcible disbandment of the AFKLA; formation of a successor force did not begin until 1984.
  13. ^ The Cape Verde Coast Guard received its first aircraft in November 1992; its actual date of formation is unknown at this time.
  14. ^ When Chile's unified national air force was dissolved in 1953, the Army did not regain an air arm of its own. Disappointment with this outcome led to the founding of the Club Aéreo del Personal del Ejército (Army Personnel Aero Club) in 1959. Although never formally established as an air arm, it nevertheless served as an important and foundational predecessor to the modern CAEC.
  15. ^ On 28 February 1930, the Red Army captured a Nationalist Chinese O2U-4 Corsair reconnaissance aircraft that had been forced to land due to having run out of fuel; given a red star and named after Lenin, it was later used against the Nationalist government. This may have been the first aircraft in the Red Army. Small numbers of captured aircraft were also used against the Japanese during World War II, but the first regular Communist Chinese air force would be organized as the Nanyuan Flying Group in 1949.
  16. ^ Information on the organization of Chinese military aviation prior to 1925, when the Kuomintang began establishing its Aviation Bureaus around China, is very spotty as many records have been lost during the conflicts raging from 1931–1949 and the subsequent Cultural Revolution; in fact, during most of these earlier years, China fielded multiple air forces, most being the personal air arms of various warlords – some allied with the national government and some not. During World War II (which began for the Chinese with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931), the Japanese established a number of puppet governments, several of which were permitted to field small air forces.
  17. ^ Although a formal aviation arm was not stood up until 1979, the ROC Army created an Aviation Section for each of its two corps and an Aviation Platoon for its General Headquarters in 1956.
  18. ^ Full formal name is the Cuban Air Defense and Revolutionary Air Force (Defensa Anti-Aérea y Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria).
  19. ^ Established by Fidel Castro in 1958, but operations with a captured Aviación Naval aircraft began the previous year.
  20. ^ Split off from the Cuban air force in 1934, but remerged in 1952 reorganization.
  21. ^ 2011 placed under the Air Force as Squadron 723.
  22. ^ 2003 placed under the air force as Squadron 724.
  23. ^ In early 1948, Army aviation became an independent and separate service as the Dominican Military Aviation Corps (DMAC) El Cuerpo de Aviación Militar Dominicana (CAMD/AMD). The Army regained an air arm of its own in 2001.
  24. ^ At the beginning of 1951, the Navy was authorized to establish its own aviation arm, but it was absorbed into the Air Force the following year. The Navy regained an air arm of its own in 2003.
  25. ^ a b From 1958–1961, the Egyptian and Syrian air forces were unified as the United Arab Republic Air Force
  26. ^ The Ethiopian Air Force effectively ceased to exist in 1991, following the victory of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) in the civil war; it was reestablished in 1995.
  27. ^ Also used the ordinary French roundel: with the Cross of Lorraine as a fin flash.
  28. ^ Also used a variant of the ordinary French roundel with bars like the USAAF insignia:
  29. ^ The national flag is used as a fin flash.
  30. ^ The Gambia formed the nucleus of an air force in 2002 and sent personnel to Ukraine for a four-year pilot training course. The Gambia bought its first aircraft, a single Su-25 from Georgia in the first half of 2003. However, by 2007, the government had yet to announce its air force's formal establishment.
  31. ^ "Indian Air Force – Government of India". indianairforce.nic.in. Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  32. ^ Flank roundel:
  33. ^ Conglomerate of the Aviazione della Regia Marina and Corpo Aeronautico Militare. Tailfin insignia (click to enlarge): , flank roundel (click to enlarge):
  34. ^ Tailfin insignia (click to enlarge):
  35. ^ Tailfin insignia (click to enlarge):
  36. ^ (in Italian) Baldassare Catalanotto, Hugo Pratt, In un cielo lontano : 70 anni di aeronautica militare. Lizard editore, 1993. ISBN 88-86456-01-8
  37. ^ Patterned on the US Air Force.
  38. ^ Also used the Imperial Japanese Navy's ensign:
  39. ^ Edwards, Paul M. (2010). "Korean People's Air Force (KPAF)". Historical Dictionary of the Korean War (2nd ed.). Lanham: Scarecrow Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-8108-7461-9.
  40. ^ The first ROKAF roundel was simply a red-blue Taegeuk, later, a roundel resembles that of the USAF was used until the 2000s (click to enlarge):
  41. ^ For some time LPLAAF also used this roundel (clik to enlarge): (www.acig.org Archived 3 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine)
  42. ^ Pathet Lao insurgents operated their own small air arm from 1960–1975; it became part of the LPLAAF.
  43. ^ Following a failed attempt at a coup d'état, the Kong Le rebel faction also briefly operated a small air arm from 1960–1963, when it was re-incorporated into the RLAF.
  44. ^ The Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP) was a paramilitary adjunct of the League of Malawi Youth activist organization of the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP). Established in 1963, the first militarily trained cadres appeared in 1964, and the MYP obtained aircraft beginning in 1970.
  45. ^ Although founded in 1926, aircraft were not supplied until the following year.
  46. ^ On the flanks are used also the national flag, it seems to be used also this roundel:
  47. ^ The yellow variant of the soyombo roundel is also reported: .
  48. ^ There is also the alternate version:
  49. ^ "Paraguayan Air Arms". Archived from the original on 8 May 2009.
  50. ^ "Paraguay Naval Aviation". Archived from the original on 29 January 2008.
  51. ^ "Anul 1893". RoAF (in Romanian).
  52. ^ Cornel Năstase (2004). "Hansa Brandenburg W.29". Modelism 2004-02 (in Romanian). p. 6.
  53. ^ A new tricolour star has been reported since 2007 on several planes and helicopters: airliners.net Archived 13 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine:
  54. ^ The Serbian-Montenegrin union of Yugoslavia was dissolved in 2006 and the former nation's military assets were divided between them.
  55. ^ a b Montenegro voted to secede from the FRY in 2006 and the union with Serbia was dissolved, with FRY military assets being divided between the (now) two nations.
  56. ^ After World War I, Serbia was united with other Balkan states into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
  57. ^ Finflash (click to enlarge):
  58. ^ Some units customize their roundels, painting in white inside, their own symbol or motto.
  59. ^ Merged with Swedish Air Force 2003
  60. ^ Russia provided Tajikistan with several helicopters in 1993 and began to organize an indigenous air force by no later than 1994; however, most sources express doubts as to its operational effectiveness.
  61. ^ "Japanese use of Type 45 Siamese Mauser?". forums.gunboards.com. 18 February 2010. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  62. ^ Admin (10 March 2017). "Tonga Defence Services". Aeroflight. Aeroflight Publishing. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  63. ^ Although some aircraft were obtained after independence in 1960 and further aircraft were supplied by France in 1963, the air force was not formally established until 1964.
  64. ^ However, Tunisia's first aircraft were not obtained until 1960.
  65. ^ Official date of integration of the several emirate air arms, but actual integration took many years.
  66. ^ a b RNAS and RFC merged to form RAF
  67. ^ a b Formerly part of the Royal Air Force.
  68. ^ Also uses a low-visibility roundel:
  69. ^ Previous roundels as per US Navy
  70. ^ "Aviación Militar Bolivariana – Paladín del Espacio Soberano". Archived from the original on 6 April 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  71. ^ Andersson, Lennart (2004). "Wings Over the Desert: Aviation on the Arabian Peninsula Part One: Saudi Arabia". Air Enthusiast: 39–40.
  72. ^ Until the fifties was in use the single bordered star, also painted on fuselage and rudder (click to enlarge)
  73. ^ Red outline added to celebrate victory over Nazi Germany and is referred to as the Victory Star.
  74. ^ Preceded by the Partizanska Eskadrila NOVJ and RAF squadrons 351 and 352 (the RAF Balkan Air Force, 1942–1945)
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