Egyptian Air Force
eafh.com
The Egyptian Air Force, or EAF (Arabic: القوات الجوية المصرية, Al-Qūwāt al-Gawwīyä
al-Miṣrīyä), is the aviation branch of the Egyptian armed forces. The EAF is
headed by an Air Marshal (Lieutenant General equivalent). Currently, the
commander of the Egyptian Air Force is Air Marshal Magdy Galal Sharawi. The
force's motto is 'Higher and higher for the sake of glory' (Arabic: اعلاء الاعلى
في سبيل المجد, I‘la’ al-a‘là fī sabīl al-magd).
Currently the EAF is the largest Arab air force, reckoned to be the most
powerful air force in Africa and the second in the Middle East after the Israeli
Air Force with a total of over 579 combat aircraft and 121 armed helicopters.
History
Establishment
In late 1928, the Parliament of Egypt proposed the creation of an Egyptian Air
Force. The Egyptian ministry of war announced that it needed volunteers for the
new arm to become the first four Egyptian military pilots. Over 200 Egyptian
officers volunteered, but in the end only three succeeded in passing strict
medical tests and technical examinations.
These three went to RAF number 4 Flying Training School at Abu Suwayer near the
Suez Canal, where they were trained on a variety of aircraft. After graduation
they travelled to England for specialized training.
On November 2, 1930 King Fuad announced the creation of the Egyptian Army Air
Force (EAAF) and in September 1931, the British De Havilland aircraft company
won a contract to supply Egypt with 10 De Havilland Gipsy Moth trainers.
The first commander of the EAAF was a Canadian squadron leader, Victor Herbert
Tait. Tait selected staff and weapons and built air-bases. In 1934 the British
government provided 10 Avro 626 aircraft, which were the first real Egyptian
military planes. A further 17 626s together with Hawker Audaxes for army
cooperation and close support and Avro Ansons for VIP work followed shortly
afterwards.
In 1937 the Egyptian Army Air Force was separated from the army command and
became an independent branch named the Royal Egyptian Air Force (REAF). New
bases were built in the Suez canal region and the western desert.
In 1938 the REAF received 2 squadrons of Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters and
a squadron of then modern Westland Lysander reconnaissance aircraft, (Egypt was
the last nation to use the Lysander in action, during the 1948 Arab campaign
against Israel).
