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In 1958, the same year as the Navy came into existence, calls were made in
the Federal legislature for the establishment of an Air force for the country
to make it self reliant in defence matters. There was vehement argument in the
legislature against the continued overdependence on Britain for the defence
of the nation's waters and airspace. By 1964, this considerable foresight paid
off when the law establishing the Nigerian Airforce became functional. The embryonic
force was manned by officers seconded from the Nigerian army, mainly with the
assistance of a Technical Assistance Group (TAG) from the West German Airforce
Luftwaffe. In preparation for the establishment of the Airforce, two batches
of cadets for pilot training were sent to Ethiopia in 1962 and to Canada, India,
West Germany and USA in 1963. Other professionals like doctors, engineers and
technicians, were recruited from the nation's universities and elsewhere.
The command of the NAF base was given to the Germans who organised it into
a Headquarters located in Lagos, a Tactical and Training Wing, a Flying Training
Squadron as well as a Technical and Supply Squadron. "The depar ture of
the German team in 1966 compelled the government to rapidly indigenise the command
of the Airforce. Special courses were organised tor the cadets by the army,
after which they were quick ly commissioned to man positions vacated by the
departing Germans. The Airforce was tasked, among other things, to:
a. Defend the Federal Republic by air;
b. Train personnel in the air as welias on the ground;
c. Raise and maintain operational units; and
d. Establish and maintain an Airforce reserve of officers and men.
With these tasks in focus, the NAF began its training of personnel in 1968
with three different types of aircraft. These were the Piaggio, the D027 and
the Alluettee helicopters. It was with these same slowmoving trainer aircraft
that the NAFhad its baptism of fire in the Nigerian Civil war.
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