Haiti Air Corps

The Haiti Air Corps (French: Corps d'Aviation d'Haiti (Corps d’Aviation de 1’Armee d’Haiti)) was the air force of Haiti from 1942 to 1994. The air corps was disbanded along with the rest of the armed forces after Operation Uphold Democracy, the US invasion of 1994.

Haitian Air Corps
Corps d'Aviation d'Haiti
Corps d’Aviation de 1’Armee d’Haiti
Active1942 (1942)–1995
Country Haiti
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Part ofArmed Forces of Haiti
HeadquartersBowen Field

History

The Haitian Air Corps was founded in 1942 with aircraft supplied by the US.[1] The main task for this new air force was transport and communication.[1] The Haitian Air Corps was headquartered at Bowen Field which was a former US marine corps airfield.[1] Môle-Saint-Nicolas Airport was a secondart airfield. During World War 2 the Haitian Air Corps was engaged in the Caribbean anti submarine warfare campaign against the German Navy.[2] In 1950 the Haitian Air Corps received its first combat aircraft: six F-51D Mustangs which were active during the Duvalier period. In October 1970 the mustangs were replaced by T-28 Trojans from France. The T-28s were then replaced by O-2As in 1975. In the 1980s the Haitian Air Corps received its first jet aircraft: the SIAI-Machetti S-211 and these were accompanied by SF-260s to replace the O-2s which were sold for parts. In 1990 the SIAI-Machetti S-211s were sold, 2 were sold to United States private companies and the other two were sold to the Singapore Air Force.[3] During operation Uphold Democracy the Haitian Air Corps played almost no role in Haitian defence, the Haitian inventory at the time included: Two O-57 Grasshopper scout planes, Three BT-13 Valiant trainer planes, One C-78 Bobcat transport plane, and one C-46 Commando transport plane.[4] Almost all of the inventory at the time of the invasion dated back to World War Two and was in very poor condition at the time, the air corps was disband along with the rest of the armed forces in 1994.

Inventory
A Haitian Air Corps SF.260

At the time of the disbandment of the Haitian Air Corps this was the inventory:

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Liaison
Taylorcraft O-57 Grasshopper United States Liaison 2[4]
Transport
Cessna C-78 Bobcat United States Light Transport 1[4]
Curtiss C-46 Commando United States Heavy Transport 1[4]
Trainers
Vultee BT-13 Valiant United States Trainer 3[4] In service since 1940s

Aircraft retired before the disbandment of the Haitian Air Corps: North American Aviation F-51D Mustang, North American Aviation T-28 Trojan, Cessna O-2A Skymaster, Sikorsky S-55, de Havilland Mosquito, de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver/de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, Hughes Helicopters 269C, Hughes Helicopters 369C, Sikorsky S-58T, Aermacchi SF.260TP, Douglas C-47 Dakota, SIAI-Machetti S-211.

See also

References
  1. Aeroflight [aeroflight.co.uk/waf/americas/haiti/Haiti-af-home.htm aeroflight.co.uk/waf/americas/haiti/Haiti-af-home.htm]. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Hagedorn, Dan (2006). Latin American Air Wars and Aircraft 1912-1969. Hikori Publications. p. 119. ISBN 9781902109442.
  3. "Haiti - Forces Armées d'Haïiti [FAd'H]". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  4. jwh1975 (2015-06-09). "Uphold Democracy 1994: WWII weapons encountered". wwiiafterwwii. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
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