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Revision as of 00:10, 23 January 2025 by Upelon (talk | contribs) (→Independence transition period(1970s-1990s))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Air warfare branch of the Belize Defence Force
| Belize Defence Force Air Wing | |
|---|---|
 Air Wing Belize Defence Force Crest | |
| Founded | 1983; 42 years ago (1983) |
| Country |  Belize |
| Type | Air force |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Size | 60 personnel, 6 aircraft |
| Part of | Belize Defence Force |
| Headquarters | Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, Ladyville |
| Motto(s) | Latin: Arborem Supervigemus |
| Insignia | |
| Aircraft marking |  |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | Bell UH-1, Bell 407 |
| Patrol | Cessna 208, BN-2B Defender |
| Transport | BN-2 Islander, Piper Seneca PA34 |
The Belize Defence Force Air Wing is the aviation branch of the Belize Defence Force. Formed in 1983, it is based at the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Ladyville. The main tasks of the Air Wing are Reconnaissance, SAR, CASEVAC, aerial resupply and troop transport. Furthermore, they assist the police in drug interdiction and anti-smuggling operations, and can be called upon by the Maritime Wing.
History
Independence transition period(1970s-1990s)
RAF Belize, 1990
The mission of British aviation deployed in Belize was protected by the state of Belize, to defend with it as a territory, lather to defend with it as a state. RAF Belize was the Headquarters unit of all Royal Air Force units of British Forces Belize from the mid 1970s to mid 1990s. Aircraft flown by RAF Belize the Westland Puma HC.1 and Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR.3. Logistical support from the UK was provided by Vickers VC10 and Lockheed C-130K Hercules, Short Belfast C.1 tactical and strategic transport aircraft. British air force - RAF Belize was abolished in 1993. Various aviation units have been deployed again since 2012, as tensions between Belize and Guatemala escalated. When Guatemala intentionally violates the territorial waters of Belize and provokes a military conflict over several islands, especially the Sarstoon Islands
From 1983 to 2010
Two Britten-Norman Defenders (registration BDF-01 and BDF-02) were purchased in Britain and formed the backbone of the air wing for years. The two aircraft could be equipped with light armament, making them the first armed aircraft in Belizean history. The British Forces in Belize maintained a strong position throughout the eighties and it was only in 1990, twelve years after its formation, that three Belizeans took command of the Belize Defence Force as Commandant of BDF, Guard Commander, Commander of Air & Maritime Wing.
The Air Wing had 2 or 3 Ayres Thrush planes that were used for counter insurgency and crop dusting which initially entered service in 1988. One of them may have crashed at some point. They have apparently been placed in storage due to being deemed obsolete. The Air Wing had a Dornier 27 from 1987 to 1990,, training airplanes - Cessna 182J Skylane and Slingsby T67M260, and also a Beech A90 King Air from 2004 to 2006.
From 2010 to modern time
The Belize Defence Force Air Wing is responsible for recovering and storing captured aircraft such as drug planes and helicopters. One such incident occurred in 2015 when a helicopter was reported circling near the border with Mexico in Orange Walk. It was discovered abandoned at around 3:00 pm. The helicopter was a Bell 407 with the registration N607AZ. While it was suspected to be used for drug transportation, no evidence of drugs was found inside. The registration number was unmatched upon searching for it, so it was theorized that it was a fake registration to mislead authorities. If nobody came to claim it, the aircraft would be put into service with the Air Wing. As stated by Brig. Gen. David Jones of the Defence Force, it was unlikely to be claimed. However, no information is available to confirm this.
Through late 2015 and early 2016, two UH-1H helicopters were donated and delivered to the Air Wing from Taiwan, which use registration BDF-11 and BDF-12.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015. BMG: The mysterious Piper Seneca I PA34-200T with registration number N32812 today lies at the Belize Defense Force (BDF) Air Wing Compound at Price Barracks in Ladyville after spending the night at the Belize Municipal Airstrip, heavily guarded by members of the BDF and the Gang Suppression Unit (GSU). According to the FAA Aircraft Registry, the plane is owned by James Stallings of Irvine, California. However up to the time of publishing this article, no one has come forward to claim the aircraft. On June 12, 2021 during a conversation with the news channel new5 live, the commander of the BDF Air Wing mentioned, now have 7 pilots and a team of support and technicians in the air force. The New5 live news channel showed the Piper Seneca PA34-200T standing in the hangar, with BDF07 marking and color.
Modernization
The United States donated a Cessna Caravan 208 aircraft to the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security on March 2, 2023. Donation value $7.84 million. The aircraft was donated by U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) through the United States Foreign Military Financing program. Cessna Caravan 208 aircraft equipped with FLIR system for patrol / SAR and recon missions. Donation will modernize the interdiction capabilities of the Belize Defence Force Airwing, making Belize better equipped to assist with reconnaissance, search and rescue, and military operations throughout the country. The donation package also includes training, spare parts, and on-site maintenance support.
Aircraft
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reconnaissance / Maritime Patrol | |||||
| Cessna 208 |  United States
|
Patrol / Utility | 1 | donated by the US. Aircraft with FLIR system for patrol mission | |
| BN-2B Defender |  United Kingdom
|
Patrol / Multi-role | 1 | ||
| Transport | |||||
| BN-2 Islander | United Kingdom
|
utility | 1 | ||
| Piper Seneca PA34 | United States
|
utility | PA34-200T | 1 | October 28, 2015 aircraft Piper Seneca PA34-200T N32812 was confiscated and handed over to the BDF- tail Nr BDF07 |
| Helicopters | |||||
| Bell UH-1 | United States
|
utility | UH-1H | 1 | |
| Bell 407 | United States
|
utility | 1 | Helicopter was confiscated and handed over to the BDF | |
Retired aircraft
Previous aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of the Ayres Thrush, Dornier 27, Beech A90 King Air, Cessna 182J Skylane, Slingsby T67M260
Ranks and insignia
Officers
The rank insignia for commissioned officers for the air force.
Accidents
- In October 1998, Defender BDF-01 crashed near Orange Walk. A US Chinook helicopter retrieved it in 1999. BDF-01 was unable to be repaired, so a replacement Defender was received in 2003, with registration BDF-05.
- In 2007, BDF-05 crashed in a marshy area near the Belizean coast. No fatalities were sustained, and a US UH-60 Black Hawk airlifted it out of the area. The Defense Forces' Cessna 208 now bears the registration BDF-08.
- One of two UH-1 helicopters(BDF12) donated by Taiwan in 2016 crashed on February 28, 2020.
References
- ^ Hackett 2022, p. 124. sfn error: no target: CITEREFHackett2022 (help)
- "Armed Forces Overviews: Belize". Scramble. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- "World Air Forces 1994 pg. 32". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- "Ayres S-2R Turbo Thrush - Belize Defence Force Air Wing - Gallery / XAIRFORCES". www.xairforces.net. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ^ Erich (28 February 2017). "Belize Defence Force". Aeroflight. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- "Mystery Helicopter Found At BZE/MEX Border: Was Chapo In That Chopper?". www.7newsbelize.com. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- "Belice de luto por la muerte de la tripulación del helicóptero BDF-11". Defensa. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- "HeliHub.com Belize Defence Force holds ceremony for two donated UH-1s". helihub.com. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- "No-one has claimed abandoned mystery plane". 28 October 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
- ^ "Pilot and passengers disappear | Amandala Newspaper".
- "united-states-donates-cessna-caravan-aircraft | usembassy".
- "United States Donates Cessna Caravan Aircraft to the Ministry of National Defence and Border Security". U.S. Embassy in Belize. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/belizelivenews/posts/bdf-congratulates-3-soldiers-for-the-forces-1st-international-military-flight-in/742054419729680/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ Sonneveld, Wim. "Belize Defence Force". www.scramble.nl. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- Griffin, Chyenne (4 May 2007). "JTF-B Soldiers set the standard for foreign aircraft recovery". 12th Air Force.
- "Cessna 208 Caravan - Belize Defence Force Air Wing - Gallery / XAIRFORCES". xairforces.net. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
- < "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 233322". Aviation Safety Network. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2022.