Dominican Air Force

Dominican Air Force Fuerza Aérea de República Dominicana
Dominican Air Force logo
Active	February 15, 1948 - present
Country	Dominican Republic
Branch	Air Force
Type	Air Force
Size	5,498 personnel, 75 aircraft
Anniversaries	February 15, 1948
Engagements	Dominican Civil War
Commanders
Current commander	Maj. Gen. Feliz Perez
Notable commanders	Frank Féliz Miranda
Insignia
Roundel
Air Force Ensign

The Air Force of the Dominican Republic or Fuerza Aérea de República Dominicana, is one of the three branches of the Military of the Dominican Republic, together with the Army and the Navy.

In 1932 the El Arma de Aviación del Ejército Nacional was formed as part of the Dominican Army. Until 1942 only about a dozen aircraft were purchased. The service was renamed Compañia de Aviación del Ejército Nacional on October 26, 1942. Whilst granting base facilities to the United States during World War II the Dominican Republic received limited quantities of Lend-Lease military equipment. In 1947 a group of Dominican Republic exiles from Cuba tried to invade the country. The government wanted to receive large quantities of bombers and fighters aircraft from the United States, but the government blocked these sales and prevented sales of the Canadian government to President Trujillo. But agents of the president managed to buy some Beaufighter and Mosquito aircraft from the United Kingdom. After signing the Rio Treaty 1947 the Dominican Republic received large quantities of aircraft, for example 25 P-47D fighter-bomber and 30 AT-6 trainers from the United States. With this influx of aircraft the Compañia de Aviación expanded and became an independent service on January 15, 1948, and was renamed Cuerpo de Aviación Militar Dominicana. It moved its headquarters to Base Aérea Presidente Trujillo, in the capital's suburb of San Isidro.

The Air Force underwent several name changes during the 1950s, being known as the Dominican Military Aviation during 1952-55 and 1957–62 and as the Dominican Air Force during 1955-57. In 1962 it again became known as the Dominican Air Force, the name is still in use today.