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Dominican Republic |
Current Title: | Fuerza Aérea de República Dominicana |
Title in English: | Dominican Republic Air Force |
Abbreviation: | FARD |
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. FAD was renamed Fuerza Aérea de República Dominicana (FARD) on 1.10.2013.
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. | |
1.10.2013 | The Air Force was renamed Fuerza Aérea de República Dominicana. |
Current Status:
Future Plans:
Units of the Air Force are fully operational.
No information available.
Markings
National Insignia:
Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
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):
Current --- Historical
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:
Coding system not used.
Aircraft
Aircraft Designation System(s):
Current Aircraft Inventory:
All-Time Aircraft Used List:
None.
Table of Current Service Aircraft
Alphabetical Order ---
Chronological Order
Organisation
Main Headquarters:
Current Organisational Structure:
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:
Compañia de Aviación del Ejército Dominicano
Cuerpo de Aviación Militar Dominicana
Escuadrón de Combate
Base Aérea San Isidro, Santo Domingo
The Air Force is organised in three operational squadrons and one flying
school.
Table of Current Order of Battle
Escuadrón de Transporte
Air Bases
Current Air Bases:
All-Time Air Bases Used List:
Most of the current fixed wing aircraft and helicopters of the Dominican Republic Air Force are based at
Base Aérea San Isidro, Santo Domingo.
Military Air Bases Listing
More Information
Books:
Texan and Harvards in Latin America
(Dan Hagedorn)
Latin American Fighters (Iñigo Guevara y Moyano)
World Air Power Journal No.32 p. 146-148
Websites:
Fuerza Aérea Dominicana (offiial hompage)
'Magazines:
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First Created: 26 July 2002 - Last Revised: 15 February 2014 | ||||
Copyright © 2002 Erich Klaus. e-mail: erich.klaus@a1.net |