Ethiopian Air Force

Ethiopian Air Force
Ethiopian Air Force roundel
Founded	18 August 1929
Country	Ethiopia
Type	Air force
Size	3,000 personnel
Equipment	67 Aircraft
Engagements	Gugsa Wale's Rebellion Second Italo-Abyssinian War Ethiopian Civil War Ethio-Somali War Ethiopian-Eritrean War
Commanders
Major General	Molla Hailemariam
Ceremonial chief	Michael Teka
Aircraft flown
Attack	Sukhoi Su-25, Mil Mi-24
Fighter	Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23, Sukhoi Su-27
Trainer	Aermacchi SF-260, Aero L-39 Albatros
Transport	Antonov An-12, Antonov An-24, Antonov An-26, De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo, Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Mil Mi-6, Mil Mi-8

The Ethiopian Air Force (ETAF); Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ አየር ሃይል, Ye Ithopya Ayer Hayl, is the air arm of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and is tasked with protecting the air space, providing support to the ground forces as well as assisting during national emergencies.

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 the first Abyssinian to take flight in an aeroplane." As a result of this experience, he afterwards 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. The Ethiopian Air Force was organized by Mishka Babitchef, the first Ethiopian pilot, who was of Russian descent. A Junkers W 33c followed on 5 September.

On 31 March 1930, three of 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 his ouster. 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 the Italian conquest of Ethiopia, when the small air arm ceased to exist.