Ghana Air Force

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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

[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, the Royal Air Force commander was replaced by a Ghanaian Army Brigadier, re-designated to Air Commordore. 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 Afica's first 'Chief of the Air Staff' south of the Sahara. As part of President Kwame Nkrumah's Africanization programme he was in fact at one time 'Aide-De-Camp' to Nkrumah, advisor to president Linmann and Ports and Airports Security chief during Acheampongs regime. Notably his achievements were exemplary in that he passed through just about all regimes merituosly without being a victim of circumstance; except that of Jerry John Rawlings prefering to retire to the UK with his wife and children where he became Grand Master of the Lodge of England before passing away peacefully at the age of 90. He was well respected and in his younger days during the thirties was a professional boxer under the pseudonym of 'The Chocolate Kid'. He became welter and middle weight boxing champion of Ghana and West Africa respectively. Establishing the first Ghana Boxing Board of Control as chairman he was later to become vice president of the African Boxing Union {1974-1978} ABU and menber of the World Boxing Council WBC. His mother was German from the Goy family of West Fallen and whose father was an Imperialist German General. His father was a Ghanaian Baptist Minister from the famous Hayford family of the Fanti people's 'Anona clan' royal stool which included his father, Dr,Reverend, Mark, Christian Hayford, his uncle the Hon: J.E. Casely Hayford, and his brother the Hon; Archie, Casely Hayford all renouned nationalists and freedom fighters. The real indigenous name of 'Afua' was corrupted as was the norm for simplicities sake by the British missionaries of the day to be phonetically pronounced and spelt 'Hayford'. Being a mullato, Air Vice Marshal de Graft-Hayford epitomised the struggle of a champion having to grow, serve and fight his way up through racism from both sides of the colour bar but more harshly from the British forces during World War 2. Never the less, he became the third african to be commisioned into the british army. 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 & 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 Adolph Hitlers top personal pilot and under the command of Air Commordore 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:

[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] 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:

[edit] Airmen

In descending order of importance the GAF airman ranks are:

[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).

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