Current Title:	Fuerza Aérea Dominicana
Title in English:	Dominican Republic Air Force
Abbreviation:	FAD

Narrative Summary:
 

In 1932 the El Arma de Aviación, Ejército Nacional  was formed as part of the Dominican Republic Army. Until 1942 only about a dozen aircraft were purchased. The service was renamed Compañia de Aviación, Ejército Nacional on October 26, 1942. Whilst granting base facilities to the United States during World War Two the Dominican Republic received limited quantities of Lend-Lease military equipment. In 1947 a group of Dominican Republic exiles from Cuba tried to invade the country. The government wanted to receive large quantities of bomber and fighter aircraft from the USA, but the US government blocked these sales and prevented sales of the Canadian government to President Trujillo. But agents of the president managed to buy some Beaufighter and Mosquito aircraft from the United Kingdom. After signing the Rio Treaty 1947 the Dominican Republic received large quantities of aircraft, for example 25 F-47D fighter-bomber or 30 AT-6 trainers from the United States.With this income of aircraft the Compañia de Aviación expanded and became an independent service on 15.1.1948, named Cuerpo de Aviación Militar Dominicana. AMD moved its headquarters to Base Aérea Presidente Trujillo, in the capital's suburb of San Isidro.

The Air Force underwent several name changes during the 1950s, being known as the Dominican Military  Aviation during 1952-55 and 1957-62 and as the Dominican Air Force during 1955-57. In 1962 it again became known as the Dominican Air Force, the name still in use today.

In 1952 25 de Havilland Vampire and 32 North American F-51D were bought from Sweden but similar purchases from Canada and Japan were again blocked by the USA. In 1956 the Fuerza Aérea Dominicana had about 240 aircraft. During the next years most of the post-war equipment was at the end of its useful life. After the assassination of President Trujillo in 1961 funds for the Air Force decreased and in 1963 the FAD had only 110 aircraft.

During the next 15 years the number of aircraft in the Air Force declined again and only second-line material, such as training aircraft or helicopters, was acquired. In the early 1980s the Fuerza Aérea Dominicana had about 80 aircraft in five operational squadrons with most of the aircraft and helicopters operating out of San Isidro AB in Santo Domingo.

Key Dates:
1932		El Arma de Aviación, Ejército Nacional was formed as part of the Army.
26.10.1942		Compañia de Aviación, Ejército Nacional was formed.
1947		Dominican Republic received large quantities of aircraft from the United States.
15.1.1948		The Aviation Company became an independent service and was renamed Cuerpo de Aviación Militar Dominicana.
5.1952		The Air Force was renamed Aviación Militar Dominicana.
1962		The Aviación Militar Dominicana was again renamed as Fuerza Aérea Dominicana.

 

Current Status:
Units of the Air Force are fully operational.

Future Plans:
No information available.

National Insignia:
Current --- Historical

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
First serials were allocated to aircraft in 1933 with the Compañia de Aviación del Ejército Dominicano. Serials began with number 1 and were used in chronological order as aircraft arrive in the Air Force. This system was changed in 1950, when the AMD got a clear serialling system with just one execption, the A-37B. Aircraft and helicopters were given four digital serials in one of three blocks: 1000 for fighters and advanced trainers, 2000 for bombers and fighter-bombers, 3000 other types, with the first two digits signifying the aircraft type, as follows:

10     North American AT-6 Texan

11     Republic F-47D Thunderbolt

12     Vultee BT-13A Valiant

13     Stearman PT-13/PT-17 Kaydet

14     Cessna UC-78 / T-50 Bobcat

15     various communications types

16     Beech T-34B Mentor

17     Cessna O-2A

18     Enaer T-35B Pillan

19     North American F-51D Mustang

21     De Havilland Mosquito

23     Boeing B-17G Fortress

24     Bristol Beaufighter

25     North American B-25H Mitchell

27     de Havilland Vampire

28     North American T-28D

29     Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina

29     Embraer A-29B Super Tucano (EMB-314)

30     various helicopters

31     Curtiss C-46 Commando

32     Douglas B-26 Invader (Transporter)

33     Lockheed T-33A

34     Douglas C-47 Skytrain

35     CASA 212

37     Cessna A-37B
 

Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Coding system not used.

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None.

Current Aircraft Inventory:
Table of Current Service Aircraft

All-Time Aircraft Used List:
Alphabetical Order --- Chronological Order

Main Headquarters:
Base Aérea San Isidro, Santo Domingo

Current Organisational Structure:
The Air Force is organised in three operational squadrons and one flying school.

Current Order of Battle:
Table of Current Order of Battle

Historical Orders of Battle:

Historical Order of Battle (1932-1948)

Historical Order of Battle (1949-1954)

Historical Order of Battle (1954-1961)

Historical Order of Battle (1961-1982)

 

All-Time Flying Units List:

Comando Aéreo

Comando Aéreo Norte

Comando Norte

Compañia de Aviación del Ejército Dominicano

Cuerpo de Aviación Militar Dominicana

Escuadrón de Caza

Escuadrón de Caza-Bombardeos

Escuadrón de Combate
Escuadrón de Transporte

Escuadrón de Rescate

Current Air Bases:
Most of the current fixed wing aircraft and helicopters of the Dominican Republic Air Force are based at Base Aérea San Isidro, Santo Domingo.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
Military Air Bases Listing

Books:

Texan and Harvards in Latin America (Dan Hagedorn)