November 1935		Rhodesian Regiment Air Unit established on a Territorial basis
1936		Airmen join the Permanent Staff Corps of the Southern Rhodesia Defence Forces
1936		First group of apprentices sent to RAF Halton in the UK for training as ground crew
1937		Air Unit renamed Southern Rhodesia Air Unit (SRAU)
13 May 1938		First trainee pilots awarded their wings
August 1939		Territorial Force members of the Air Unit called-up for full time service
28 August 1939		Air Unit deployed to Kenya
19 September 1939		Air Unit officially becomes the Southern Rhodesia Air Force, and Air Unit flights become No.1 Squadron
4 January 1940		Formation of Rhodesian Air Training Group (RATG) announced
April 1940		SRAF absorbed into Royal Air Force and No.1 Sqn redesignated 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron
May 1940		RATG starts training operations
1 June 1941		Southern Rhodesian Women's Auxiliary Air Services inaugurated
20 August 1941		266 Squadron RAF received the name 'Rhodesia' after its number
12 September 1941		44 Squadron RAF received the name 'Rhodesia' after its number
28 November 1947		Southern Rhodesia Air Force re-established as a permanent unit
July 1949		Auxiliary Air Force formed for refresher training of experienced aircrew
22 March 1951		First Spitfires arrive to equip two new fighter squadrons
September 1952		New Sarum air base opened
September 1953		SRAF renamed Rhodesian Air Force upon creation of Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
12 December 1953		First jet aircraft delivered - the de Havilland Vampire
January 1954		Rhodesian Air Training Group closed down
15 October 1954		'Royal' prefix added to the title of the Rhodesian Air Force
late 1957		RRAF fighter squadrons begin annual deployments to the Middle East as part of Commonwealth commitment
21 February 1959		First RRAF internal security mission - in Nyasaland
1961		RRAF Volunteer Reserve established
June 1961		First co-operation exercises with SAAF
1962		First helicopters delivered
31 December 1963		RRAF reverts to Southern Rhodesia control when Federation breaks up
28 April 1966		'Battle of Sinoia' - first notable anti-guerrilla operation by the RRAF
1 March 1970		'Royal' prefix dropped - Rhodesian Air Force. New 'lion' roundel adopted.
1973		Start of 'Fireforce' hunter-killer helicopter operations against guerrillas
1977		ComOps (Combined Operations Headquarters) formed to coordinate air-land operations
23 November 1977		Operation Dingo - attack on Chimoio guerrilla camp in Mozambique
18 October 1978		Operation Gatling - attack on Westlands Farm (Chikumbi) guerrilla base in Zambia
26 February 1979		Operation Vanity - attack on guerrilla base Vila da Lusa in central Angola
3 March 1979		Country renamed Zimbabwe-Rhodesia but air force title unchanged
5 September 1979		Operation Uric - attack on FRELIMO base at Mapai & bridges at Barragem in Mozambique
1 October 1979		Operation Miracle - attack on ZANU guerrilla camps around Chimoio in Mozambique
18 April 1980		Air Force renamed Air Force of Zimbabwe
25 July 1982		Sabotage explosion at Thornhill air base destroys 10 aircraft and damages another four
1983-93		Support to Army operations in Mozambique
1986		First women accepted for pilot training
June 1998		Start of military intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo