Republic of Vietnam Air Force

Republic of Vietnam Air Force Không lực Việt Nam Cộng hòa
Emblem of the South Vietnamese air force
Active	1955–1975
Country	South Vietnam
Allegiance	Republic of Vietnam
Type	Air force
Role	Air defense Air warfare
Size	63,000 personnel (at height) 2,075 aircraft (at height)
Part of	Republic of Vietnam Military Forces
Garrison/HQ	Tan Son Nhat Airbase, Saigon
Nickname(s)	KLVNCH (VNAF in English)
Motto(s)	Tổ Quốc - Không Gian (Fatherland - Space)
Anniversaries	1 July - VNAF Day
Engagements	Vietnam War Cambodian Civil War Laotian Civil War
Commanders
Notable commanders	Nguyễn Xuân Vinh Nguyễn Cao Kỳ
Insignia
Flag
Roundel
Fin Flash
Aircraft flown
Attack	MD 315 Flamant, T-28, A-1, A-37, AC-47, AC-119G/K
Bomber	B-57 Canberra
Electronic warfare	EC-47
Fighter	F8F Bearcat, F-5A/B/C/E
Patrol	Republic RC-3 Seabee
Reconnaissance	RF-5A, MS 500 Criquet, O-1 Bird Dog, O-2 Skymaster, U-6, U-17
Trainer	Pazmany PL-2, T-6, T-28, T-41, T-37, H-13
Transport	Dassault MD 315 Flamant, C-45, Aero Commander, C-47, DC-6, C-7 Caribou, C-119, C-123, C-130, Alouette II, Alouette III, H-19, UH-1, H-34, CH-47

The South Vietnam Air Force (Vietnamese: Không lực Việt Nam Cộng hòa – KLVNCH), officially the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (sometimes Vietnam Air Force – VNAF) was the aerial branch of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces, the official military of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) from 1955 to 1975.

The VNAF began with a few hand-picked men chosen to fly alongside French pilots during the State of Vietnam era. It eventually grew into the world's sixth largest air force at the height of its power, in 1974. It is an often neglected chapter of the history of the Vietnam War as they operated in the shadow of the United States Air Force. It was dissolved in 1975 after the Fall of Saigon; many of its members emigrated to the United States.

See also Operation Farm Gate

In March 1949, Emperor Bảo Đại officially requested that the French help set up a Vietnamese military air arm. Pressure was maintained with the assistance of Lt. Col. Nguyễn Văn Hinh, who had flown the B-26 Marauder with the French Air Force in the Second World War. In March 1952, a training school was set up at Nha Trang, and the following year two army co-operation squadrons began missions flying the Morane-Saulnier MS.500 Criquet light aircraft. In 1954, the French allocated a number of Dassault MD.315 Flamant armed light transports to the inventory of this Vietnamese air arm. Vietnamese pilot trainees began to be sent to France for more advanced training. In May 1954, with the fall of Điện Biên Phủ, the position of France changed, and on January 31, 1955, the Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) was inaugurated. French instructors for pilots and mechanics remained until late 1956, and transferred 69 F8F Bearcat aircraft to the VNAF, which throughout the late 1950s were the main strike aircraft.