Gerhard Kahtz
Colonel Gerhard Kahtz (born 26 November 1922) was a German military officer who served as the Nigerian Air Force's Chief of the Air Staff from 1963 to 1965.[1][2]
Gerhard Kahtz | |
|---|---|
| Chief of the Air Staff | |
| In office 5 May 1963 – 11 November 1965 | |
| President | Nnamdi Azikiwe |
| Prime Minister | Abubakar Tafawa Balewa |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Wolfgang Thimmig |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 November 1922 Durlach, Weimar Germany |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Luftwaffe Nigerian Air Force |
| Years of service | -1965 |
Early life and career
He was born on 26 November 1922 in Durlach, Germany. Kahtz was a professional architect, before he commissioned as an officer into the Luftwaffe. He served the Luftwaffe as a combat pilot during the Second World War during which he was decorated with the prestigious Iron Cross.
Nigeria
Colonel Kahtz arrived Nigeria on 30 May 1963 as head of the German Air Force Assistance Group (GAFAG). He was officially designated as the Commander of the NAF, and assigned to create an Air Force for Nigeria by a 1963 agreement between Nigeria and West Germany.
By the end of his tour of duty on 23 November 1965, a functional NAF existed with an operational base in Kaduna and administrative headquarters in Lagos. He was succeeded by fellow German Wolfgang Thimmig. His administration brought the first set of aircraft into the NAF inventory.[3] In reflection of his service, he has said, "I am pretty happy and proud of what I did for the NAF in only 2 years”. His command of was characterized by him being a "focused, firm and exemplary leader”.[3]
References
- History of The Nigerian Air Force - Colonel Kahtz, last access 01.05.2011.
- "Nigerian Air Force". Nigerian Air FOrce. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- admin (2 November 2012). "Colonel Gerhard Kahtz: Nigerian first Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)". African Heritage Magazine. Retrieved 14 March 2023.