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62-677: The origins of the Ethiopian Air Force has been traced to (then Ras ) Haile Selassie witnessing a show of the British Royal Air Force in November 1922, in Aden . Having never seen an airplane before, he was captivated by this demonstration of their power and abilities, and spontaneously asked if he could go up in one of the biplanes , proclaiming that it was "very fitting that he, as regent of Abyssinia should be

124-551: A comprehensive study of Ethiopian capabilities, requirements, and probable threats facing Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Air Force benefited immensely from the program. The US Air Force sent a team of officers and NCOs led by a colonel to assess the force and provide recommendations as part of the Military Assistance Advisory Group studying Ethiopian Armed Forces comprehensively. The IEAF was to be reorganized and adopt US-style operating procedures. Emphasis

186-567: A depot-level maintenance, repair, and overhaul center after the Derg regime took up the matter with the Soviet leadership. However, lack of finance hindered the progress and only minimal work was done by 1991. The project was restarted in 1995 and formally inaugurated in 2004. The Derg years saw the ETAF embroiled in the civil war . The ETAF played a critical role in the Derg's war effort in the north. It

248-705: A flying school at Lideta airport in Addis Ababa . The nation acquired a few aircraft through military aid from the United States and United Kingdom ; and the school had some 75 students by 1946. As neither the United States nor the United Kingdom was interested in providing assistance, Ethiopia turned to Sweden to help create a modern air arm ( see Ethiopia–Sweden relations ). The Swedes agreed to provide assistance and Carl Gustaf von Rosen

310-505: A joint training center for all their satellite states leaving the ETAF responsible only for operational training. They also offered to train engineers at their schools. Expecting to realize enormous cost savings, the ETAF accepted the offer. As a result, both the flying school and Air Academy were closed in 1980 and all recruits were sent to the Soviet Union after passing aptitude test examination and medical screening. Dissatisfied with

372-547: A series of airstrikes on the city of Wukro would inflict 14 civilian deaths. On 22 June 2021, an Ethiopian fighter plane bombed a market in the town Togoga killing 64 civilians and wounding 180 more. Several ETAF aircraft have also been shot down. On 29 November 2020, an ETAF Mig-23 was shot down by the TPLF leading to the capture of the pilot. On 20 April 2021, an ETAF Mil Mi-35 was shot down near Guya killing three crew members. On 23 June 2021 an ETAF Lockheed L-100 Hercules

434-503: A significant change in the ETAF. The entire Ethiopian National Defense Force was ill-prepared for the conflict. Most of the Ethiopian Ground Forces were located in the south and southeast. The EPRDF government considered the northern borders to be the most secure due to its then close relationship with Eritrea and had decided to leave the border security in the hands of the local militia and police forces. The case with

496-675: A similar role until they were finally retired, with the last being an NT-33 variant retired in April 1997. The T-33 has served with over 30 nations and continues to operate as a trainer in smaller air forces . Canadair built 656 T-33s on licence for service in the RCAF— Canadian Forces as the CT-133 Silver Star , while Kawasaki manufactured 210 in Japan . Other operators included Brazil , Turkey , and Thailand , which used

558-422: A single T-38 Talon . Actor and pilot Michael Dorn owned a T-33, which he jokingly referred to as his "starship". Khodkar Iranian conversion of T-33A into drone. For operators of Canadian-built aircraft, refer to Canadair CT-133 Silver Star . Numerous T-33s have been preserved as museum and commemorative displays. On January 28, 1951 : WW2 Ace Dominic Salvatore Gentile was killed when he crashed in

620-676: Is an American subsonic jet trainer . It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A . It was used by the U.S. Navy initially as TO-2 , then TV-2 , and after 1962, T-33B . The last operator of the T-33, the Bolivian Air Force, retired the type in July 2017, after 44 years of service. The T-33

682-565: The Berbera . The ETAF lost three F-5Es to ground fire and one C-47 transport plane to a MIG-17 while one Canberra was flown by a defecting pilot to Somalia. Another Canberra was lost due to a mechanical problem deep inside Ethiopia after it suffered hits from a ground attack. Two F-5E pilots as well as the C-47 crew were captured by the Somalis while one F-5E pilot was rescued by helicopter. One of

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744-550: The Italian occupation of Ethiopia when the small air arm ceased to exist. Notable pilots of the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force (1929–1936) After the liberation of Ethiopia, the country started reorganizing the embryonic air force that had existed prior to the Italian invasion , commanded by Colonel John Robinson ( African-American ). In 1944, a group of World War II African-American veterans set up

806-496: The RT-33A with a camera installed in the nose and additional equipment in the rear cockpit was also produced. Although primarily intended for export, the U.S. Air Force used a single example of the type for secret overflights of South Vietnam and Laos from 1961, with these flights codenamed FIELD GOAL. This lasted until the aircraft were replaced by the more capable McDonnell RF-101 Voodoo in this role. The USAF began phasing

868-493: The ETAF was no different which never had replaced its northern command base it lost when Eritrea seceded. In the two years that followed from 1998 to 2000 and despite the many constraints, the ETAF was able to provide crucial support to the ground forces. Su-27 air superiority fighters were acquired along with advanced versions of the Mi-35 helicopter gunships. The Su-27s were used to shoot down four Eritrean Air Force MIG-29s ;

930-584: The ETAF's role was critical in stopping the advance of the Somali forces, the ground forces were not ready for offensive operations to expel the Somalis from the area they controlled. The army was short in equipment of all sorts, and after the Derg acquired power United States President Jimmy Carter cut off all military aid to Ethiopia. Desperate, the Derg regime turned to the Soviets for help. The Soviet Union, which

992-436: The ETAF, to report to detention camps set up throughout the country. The EPRDF started reorganizing the air force soon after taking power. Shortly after taking complete control of the country, it selected about 50 officers and NCOs from the rehabilitation camps to reactivate a transport wing. In addition, more pilots and ground crew were returned to bring back the assets that were flown to neighboring countries by fleeing pilots in

1054-927: The Ethiopian Air Force converted from the F-86 to the MiG-21, and No. 33 Operational Conversion Unit from the T-33A to the MiG-21UM and MiG-21MF; a year later, No. 3 Squadron converted from the F-86 to the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 BN "Flogger." In 1980, No. 5 Squadron converted from F-86s to the MiG-21bis. Years later, all four squadrons, and 33 OCU, were reported to be based at Debre Zeit . After its independence in 1960, Somalia started making claims to all of its precolonial territories that were occupied by France, British and disputed lands with Ethiopia. However,

1116-648: The F-5A transfer as a grave threat to the security of the Somali people and the rest of the Horn . In 1976, the US agreed to supply more advanced F-5Es along with AIM-9B sidewinder missiles after the Soviets delivered Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighters to Somalia. The F-5E aircraft destined for Ethiopia was never delivered and was stored at Williams AFB, Arizona during the Ogaden War 1977–1978. In 1977, Nos 1 and 2 Squadrons of

1178-684: The F-5E pilots captured was Legesse Tefera (died 5 October 2016), credited with six (or 7) Somali MiG kills, making him the most successful F-5 pilot ever. His F-5E was shot down while overflying an area thought to be in control by Ethiopian forces. He was captured by the local Somali population and was turned over to then Somali army commander of the region, Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf , and held prisoner for over 10 years. Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf later became President of Somalia. The other captured F-5E pilot, Afework Kidanu, died while in captivity in Somalia. While

1240-463: The IEAF formed its first fighter/attack squadron by acquiring Fairey Firefly fighters from the United Kingdom. In 1953, a military agreement was entered between the United States and Ethiopia for a military assistance program ( see Ethiopia–United States relations ). It aimed to provide Ethiopia with a capable military force for defensive purposes. The Department of Defense sent a team to undertake

1302-516: The IEAF, in the opinion of historian Bahru Zewde, "the most prestigious show-piece of American aid in Ethiopia. It was also reputedly the most modern and efficient unit of the armed forces." In 1964, the Somalis began receiving large quantities of weaponry, ground equipment, and MiG-17 fighters from the Soviet Union ( see Ethiopia–Russia relations ). In response, the US started delivering

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1364-683: The Ras title to a duke ; others have compared it to " prince ". The combined title of Leul Ras ( Amharic : ልዑል ራስ) was given to the heads of the cadet branches of the Imperial dynasty, such as the Princes of Gojjam , Tigray , Ras Tafari Makonnen and the Selalle sub-branch of the last reigning Shewan Branch, and meaning "Lord of Lords", the highest title of lord. Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird )

1426-508: The Soviet-provided training, the ETAF re-activated both its flight training school and Air Academy in 1984. SF260TP propeller aircraft for primary screening and L-39 jets for jet-transition training was acquired from Italy and Czechoslovakia respectively. The Air Academy was reopened using civilian instructors with degree programs in aeronautical engineering, aeronautical administration, and electrical engineering. This period witnessed

1488-539: The T-33 extensively. Some T-33s retained two machine guns for gunnery training, and in some countries, the T-33 was even used in combat: the Cuban Air Force used them during the Bay of Pigs Invasion , scoring several kills including sinking two transport ships. The RT-33A version, reconnaissance aircraft produced primarily for use by foreign countries, had a camera installed in the nose and additional equipment in

1550-815: The T-33 out of front-line pilot training duties in the Air Training Command in the early 1960s, as the Cessna T-37 Tweet and Northrop T-38 Talon aircraft began replacing it for the Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) program. The T-33 was used to train cadets from the Air Force Academy at Peterson Field (now Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs). The T-37 replaced the T-33 for Academy training in 1975. The final T-33 used in advanced training

1612-429: The US respectively. In 1974, popular unrest against Emperor Haile Selassie led to a military coup. The military then formed a committee from within, known as the Derg , dominated by junior officers and NCOs. Shortly after, it executed 60 top civilian and distinguished military officials and imprisoned many others. In addition, the Derg forced out many career military officers it was suspicious of and killed others. The army

1674-406: The aging Safirs, and two L-100 Hercules transport aircraft, the civilian version of the military C-130 Hercules transport, were acquired through Ethiopian Airlines ( see Czechoslovakia-Ethiopia relations , Ethiopia-Italy relations ). While its performance during the war with Somalia saved the ETAF from the purges inflicted on the army and nearly every other institution in the country, the Derg

1736-725: The aircraft was downed by the Tigray Defense Forces during the Tigray War that started in November 2020 between Ethiopia and the Tigray Region. Ras (title) Ras ( Amharic : ራስ , romanized :  ras , lit.   'head' compare with Arabic Rais or Hebrew Rosh ), is a royal title in the Ethiopian Semitic languages . It is one of the powerful non-imperial titles. Historian Harold G. Marcus equates

1798-558: The biplanes from Ethiopia's air arm played a dramatic role in a battle between Haile Selassie (not yet crowned Emperor) and conservative forces seeking to oust him. During the Battle of Anchem , biplanes were effectively used to give Haile Selassie's forces the upper hand. A few transport aircraft were also acquired during 1934–35 for ambulance work. The air force was commanded by Colonel John Robinson (African-American, took command May 1935), recruited by Haile Selassie, and who remained until

1860-668: The controls. Production at Lockheed ran from 1948 to 1959. The US Navy used the T-33 as a land-based trainer starting in 1949. It was designated the TV-2 , but was redesignated the T-33B in 1962. The Navy operated some ex-USAF P-80Cs as the TO-1 , changed to the TV-1 about a year later. A carrier-capable version of the P-80/T-33 family was subsequently developed by Lockheed, eventually leading to

1922-496: The decline of the ETAF's maintenance and engineering centers. Unlike the Americans, the Soviets were unwilling to transfer technical know-how. They insisted that every major repair work be undertaken by them in the Soviet Union. In addition to the logistical nightmare, the cost was prohibitive for the air force already financially stretched supporting the ground forces in the raging civil war. The Soviets relented and agreed to set up

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1984-480: The effectiveness of the ETAF in the second year of the war. Su-25T jets with precision strike capability were acquired along with sophisticated electronic warfare systems. Its members undertook dangerous missions deep inside Eritrean territory from interdicting supply lines, reconnaissance, and destruction of air defense systems. This in turn greatly raised the morale of the Ethiopian army which enabled them to break

2046-460: The final days of the Derg. The EPRDF government was cognizant of the critical role of airpower, having experienced it first hand during its long war with Derg. It set up a new high command which included senior EPRDF military commanders and former members of the ETAF who have previously joined the EPRDF. Its primary task was to restore the ETAF to operational status. In August 1992, the flying school

2108-449: The first Abyssinian to take flight in an aeroplane." As a result of this experience, he advocated the development of the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force. This small air arm began with the delivery of a Potez 25 -A2 to the capital Addis Ababa on 18 August 1929. A Junkers W 33c followed on 5 September. The Ethiopian Air Force was organized by Mishka Babitchef , the first Ethiopian pilot, who was of Russian descent. On 31 March 1930, three of

2170-603: The first jet fighter to enter full squadron service in the United States Army Air Forces . As more advanced jets entered service, the F-80 took on another role—training jet pilots. The two-place T-33 jet was designed for training pilots already qualified to fly propeller-driven aircraft. Originally designated the TF-80C, the T-33 made its first flight on 22 March 1948 with Lockheed test pilot Tony LeVier at

2232-420: The first on 25 February 1999, and the second on 26 February 1999. In return, Eritrean MiG-29s shot down a total of two MiG-21 and one MiG-23 fighters during the war. One of the experienced pilots, Colonel Bezabih Petros, was one of the lead fighters and was captured by Eritrean forces for the second time, where his whereabouts are unknown. Lessons learned from the war were incorporated throughout which increased

2294-664: The former USN aircraft being expended as full-scale aerial targets for air-to-air missile tests from naval aircraft and surface-to-air missile tests from naval vessels. Several T-33s were assigned to USAF McDonnell F-101 Voodoo , Convair F-102 Delta Dagger , and Convair F-106 Delta Dart units, to include similarly equipped Air National Guard units, of the Aerospace Defense Command as proficiency trainers and practice "bogey" aircraft. Others later went to Tactical Air Command , and TAC gained Air National Guard F-106 and McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II units in

2356-542: The ground was also becoming hopeless. Eventually, the forces of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) overran the Derg's army and took control of the country in 1991. The change of events that followed had a tremendous impact on the ETAF. In 1991, the Soviet-backed Derg regime was deposed by EPRDF rebel forces. The EPRDF ordered all members of the military, including those of

2418-547: The highly fortified Eritrean front line in an amazingly short period of time. Hence, changing the tide of the war back in the Eritrean heartland. After the war, the ETAF was reorganized to better prepare it for future conflicts based on lessons learned during the 1998–2000 war. Changes were made to better reflect in its doctrine the effects of the newer equipments acquired ability to deploy precision guided munitions. The long running maintenance and overhaul center project, DAVEC ,

2480-513: The late 1950s to 1970s T2V-1/T-1A SeaStar . The two TF-80C prototypes were modified as prototypes for an all-weather two-seater fighter variant, which became the F-94 Starfire . A total of 6,557 T-33s were produced: 5,691 of them by Lockheed, 210 by Kawasaki, and 656 by Canadair. The two-place T-33 proved suitable as an advanced trainer, and it has been used for such tasks as drone director and target towing. A reconnaissance version known as

2542-524: The maintenance and overhaul centers started under the Derg. However, lack of finance delayed the implementation of most projects. The political leadership felt there was no threat to speak of facing the country to justify large expenditures, particularly pertaining to the extensive (and expensive) upgrade project for the MIG-21/23 fighter fleet. The unexpected outbreak of war with Eritrea in June 1998 led to

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2604-493: The majority of the land claimed was in Ethiopia which made it Somalia's main target. After failing to get support within the Organization of African Unity , Somalia declared war on Ethiopia in 1964. The Somali forces launched their attack at Togochale , a border town east of Jijiga , but the Derg at the time had killed most of the nation's most-able generals and its army was hampered down with civil wars across Ethiopia and

2666-439: The province of Eritrea, and therefore was no match to the air forces of Somalia well-equipped by the Soviet Union . The brief conflict provided the IEAF with valuable experience. Lessons learned included the need for heavy bombers, an air defense complex, a secure and reliable communication system, and better coordination with ground forces. As a result, Canberra bombers and air defense radars were acquired from Great Britain and

2728-468: The rear cockpit. T-33s continued to fly as currency trainers, drone towing, combat and tactical simulation training, "hack" aircraft, electronic countermeasures, and warfare training and test platforms right into the 1980s. In the 1980s, an attempt was made to modify and modernize the T-33 as the Boeing Skyfox , but a lack of orders led to the project's cancellation. About 70% of the T-33's airframe

2790-416: The retained personnel from the former Derg regime and the EPRDF military commanders assigned to ETAF. In 1995, the EPRDF government unveiled a plan for a new Ethiopian National Defense Force . The plan called for a smaller air force with a streamlined organizational structure and fewer bases. As a medium term solution, the ETAF's air and ground assets were to be upgraded with modern systems, and completion of

2852-469: The six crew members. On 30 August 2018, a DHC-6 military aircraft operating as flight 808 (ET-AIU), carrying 15 members of the defense force and 3 civilians, crashed twenty minutes away from landing at Harar Meda Airport in Bishoftu after taking off from Dire Dawa . No survivors were reported. On June 23, 2021, a Lockheed L-100 Hercules crashed near Gijet, Ethiopia . Unconfirmed reports indicated

2914-510: The supersonic F-5A jet fighters in 1965 to counter this new threat. However, it was careful not to escalate the situation further. The US delivered the F-5As without providing major weapon systems for the aircraft, the ability to use air-to-air missiles. Nevertheless, the delivery of F-5As had serious implications in the Horn of Africa because no neighboring country had anything similar to this new jet fighter. The Somalis were furious and described

2976-484: The type was officially retired on 31 July 2017. On 21 June 1996, 1 T-33A-5-LO (trainer TR-602) from the Hellenic Air Force piloted by Squadron Leader Ioannis Kouratzoglou successfully intercepted a Turkish F-16C violating Athens FIR by engaging in low-altitude high-G maneuvers. A limited number of T-33s have been owned privately, with two used by Boeing as chase aircraft. In 2010, one T-33 owned by Boeing

3038-631: Was also sped up and inaugurated in 2004. In early November 2020 a conflict broke out in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia between forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the ENDF. The ETAF would almost immediately start carrying out airstrikes on TPLF targets bombing arms depots, military bases, and other targets. Airstrikes have continued throughout the course of the war and caused civilian casualties. On 16 November 2020,

3100-425: Was appointed as the chief instructor of the newly re-formed Imperial Ethiopian Air Force (IEAF). The Swedish contingent played a critical role in setting up a solid foundation. It sent Safir trainers and B-17A light bombers from Sweden, and the Ethiopian government acquired C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft from the United States to equip the flight training, bomber, and transport squadrons, respectively. In 1951,

3162-446: Was determined to keep a close eye on it. To increase its control, the Derg created a three-man committee constituting the force commander, political commissar, and representative from the security service to oversee the air force. In addition, adhering to Soviet advice, the ETAF's organization was replaced by a Soviet-style regimental structure. The Soviet influence had a major impact on the ETAF. The Soviets offered to train all pilots at

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3224-681: Was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 by lengthening the fuselage by slightly more than 3 feet (1 m) and adding a second seat, instrumentation, and flight controls. It was initially designated as a variant of the P-80/F-80, the TP-80C / TF-80C . Design work on the Lockheed P-80 began in 1943, with the first flight on 8 January 1944. Following on the Bell P-59 , the P-80 became

3286-472: Was given to building up training institutions. Numerous Ethiopian personnel was sent to the US for training, including 25 Ethiopian pilots for jet training, and many more were trained locally by US Defense personnel. In 1957, the first three of several Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star jet trainers were supplied followed by North American F-86 Sabre fighters in 1960. In 1961, T-28 Trojans were acquired for advanced training. This influx of equipment and training made

3348-719: Was in shambles and the country was engulfed in political turmoil. It was during this moment the Somalis believed it was their best chance to launch the a massive invasion in 1977. Already alarmed at the increasing noise the Somalis were making, the Derg government had managed to convince the Ford administration to provide Ethiopia with F-5Es in 1975. The first batch of six pilots were sent to Williams Air Force Base in Arizona for conversion and tactical fighter training in August 1976. However, further training of pilots and delivery of aircraft

3410-667: Was providing assistance to Somalia, switched sides and agreed to provide substantial economic and military aid that proved to be decisive. As a result, the Air Force received a large number of aircraft for fighter, helicopter, transport roles. The Cubans provided 17,000 troops to support the Ethiopian forces. Included were Cuban pilots who flew the newly Soviet-supplied MiG-21s. In the 1980s, non-Soviet aircraft were also acquired. Several L-39C jets were acquired from Czechoslovakia for jet transition training. In addition, SF-260TP trainers were acquired from Italy in two batches to replace

3472-409: Was reopened and training of cadets was resumed. As a result, many of the instructor pilots under the Derg regime were allowed to return. In addition, senior EPRDF commanders assigned to the high command were sent abroad for staff training. The first batch of pilot trainees graduated in June 1995 which continued yearly afterward. However, the early period was fraught with much friction and mistrust between

3534-410: Was replaced 8 February 1967 at Craig AFB , Alabama. Similar replacement also occurred in the U.S. Navy with the TV-1 (also renamed T-33 in 1962), as more advanced aircraft such as the North American T-2 Buckeye and Douglas TA-4 Skyhawk II came on line. USAF and USN versions of the T-33 soldiered on into the 1970s and 1980s with USAF and USN as utility aircraft and proficiency trainers, with some of

3596-423: Was retained in the Skyfox, but it was powered by two Garrett AiResearch TFE731-3A turbofan engines. In the late 1990s, 18 T-33 Mk-III and T-33 SF-SC from the Bolivian Air Force went to Canada to be modernized at Kelowna Flightcraft. New avionics were installed, and detailed inspection and renewal of the fuselage and wings were performed. Most of the aircraft returned in early 2001 and remained operational until

3658-665: Was shot down near Gijet. The primary base is at Harar Meda Airport , in Bishoftu . There are four smaller bases used by the air force, these are: In addition to the Air Force inventory, the Ethiopian Army operates two DHC-6 , and eight Bell 205 helicopters. Previous notable aircraft operated by Ethiopia were the Lockheed T-33 , Northrop F-5 , MiG-17 , Electric Canberra , Douglas C-54 , Fairchild C-119 , de Havilland Dove , Mil Mi-6 , Mil Mi-14 , Aérospatiale SA 330 , North American T-28 , Saab 91 Safir , and Saab 17 . In 2013, an Ethiopian military cargo plane crashed on landing at Mogadishu airport in Somalia, killing four of

3720-476: Was stopped after President Carter cut off all arms supplies in protest of the Derg's human rights violations. Using the eight F-5Es as interceptors, F-5As for close air support, and Canberra for heavy bombing, the ETAF overwhelmed the Somali Air Force . Throughout the war, it also conducted strikes against several targets deep inside Somalia, including the repeated bombings of the Somali Air Force's northern main operating base at Hargeisa and long range attack on

3782-479: Was the main stumbling block the rebels faced from achieving total victory. However, in the late 1980s, many in the air force began questioning the prosecution of the war. Following a failed coup in 1989 , in which the ETAF's top leaders participated, its high command was decimated with arrests and executions. As a result, the ETAF was suffering from low morale and serious internal rifts. Pilots were defecting in increasing numbers to neighboring countries. The situation on

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3844-593: Was used as a chase aircraft during the maiden flight of the Boeing 787 . The maiden flight of the Boeing 737 MAX-7 on 16 March 2018 also featured a T-33 chase plane. The maiden flight of the Boeing 777-9 on January 25, 2020, also featured a T-33 chase plane, taking off from KBFI and meeting the 777-9 at KPAE , it stopped at KMWH and it took off again to chase the 777-9 on its way back to KBFI, flying around Mount Rainier before their landing. On December 4, 2020, Boeing retired their T-33 Chase Planes after 66 years of service. Both T-33s operated by Boeing were replaced by

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