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by Dov Gutterman, 28 June 2004
Last modified: 2015-05-25 by bruce berry
Keywords: zimbabwe | rhodesia | southern rhodesia | federation of rhodesia and nyasaland | air force |
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by Dov Gutterman, 28 June 2004
Between 1947 and 1953 the Southern Rhodesia Air Force markings were based on standard British national markings. Green/yellow/green bars were added each side of the fuselage roundel. Some aircraft also had the bars added to the wing roundels, with the bars aligned spanwise (see http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/aa-africa/zim/zim-af-nat-markings.htm).
Fin flash was RAF type A.
Dov Gutterman, 28 June 2004
image by
Clay Moss, 08 Aug 2004
With the creation of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
in 1953,
an air arm of the armed forces was created with a distinctive roundel of
its own. The RAF roundel was adapted to display three small assegais in
black and white vertically across the red centre. The assegais represented
the three territories making up the Federation, namely Southern Rhodesia,
Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland . (Note: the Union Jack was displayed in
the canton and not the Federal flag). On 15 October 1954 the air arm was officially designated as the ROYAL
RHODESIAN AIR FORCE.
Source: Flags and Symbols of Rhodesia, 1890-1980 (SAVA
Journal 5/96) by R Allport [aLL96].
Steven Shea, 15 July 1997
The national insignia of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, created in September 1953, was basically a British roundel with three vertical assegai spears superimposed upon it. The three spears represented the three components of the federation - Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. This new marking was displayed above and below each wing, and on the fuselage. The fin flash remained unchanged (see http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/aa-africa/zim/zim-af-nat-markings.htm).
Fin flash was RAF type A.
Dov Gutterman, 28 June 2004
image by
Clay Moss, 08 Aug 2004Following the dissolution of the
Federation
of Rhodesia and Nyasaland on 31 December 1963, the name
of the air force was not changed but the roundel and flag were changed to
display a SINGLE assegai extending vertically across the entire width of
the roundel.
Source: Flags and Symbols of Rhodesia, 1890-1980 (SAVA
Journal 5/96) by R Allport [aLL96].
Steven Shea, 15 July 1997
With the break-up of the Federation in December 1963, the national insignia of was revised to feature a roundel with a thinner white ring and a single large assegai spear instead of the previous three small spears. The main marking was displayed on the aircraft above and below each wing, and on the fuselage. A fin flash with a thinner white stripe was also adopted (see http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/aa-africa/zim/zim-af-nat-markings.htm).
Fin flash was RAF type C.
Dov Gutterman, 28 June 2004
image
by Clay Moss, 01 July 2005In March 1970 the prefix "Royal" was dropped
when Rhodesia declared herself a republic following the Unilateral Declaration
of Independence (UDI) in November 1965. A new air force roundel was
adopted in the new Rhodesian colours of green and white containing a lion
(in gold) and tusk in the centre of the white. The new air force ensign was taken into
use on 5 April 1970. The new flag contained the Rhodesian flag in the canton
with the roundel in the fly on a light blue field.
Source: Flags and Symbols of Rhodesia, 1890-1980 (SAVA
Journal 5/96) by R Allport [aLL96].
Steven Shea, 15 July 1997
On 1 March 1970 Rhodesia became a Republic, and a new national insignia, featuring the
Rhodesian Lion was introduced. This marking was displayed in the usual six positions, together with a green/white/green fin
flash.
Fin flash is with narrow white stripe as un RAF type C. A detailed photograph
can been seen at http://www.a2oxford.info/pages/rhodesia/images/military32.jpg and
a photograph
with the ensign at
http://www.a2oxford.info/pages/rhodesia/images/military34.jpg. It
seems that the lion always pointed to the plane's nose. Looking at http://www.a2oxford.info/pages/rhodesia/images/military04.jpg,
the lion looks more "goldish" and not outlined in black as shown below (see http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/aa-africa/zim/zim-af-nat-markings.htm).
Dov Gutterman, 28 June 2004
![[close-up of the lion]](../images/z/za)bsac.gif)
image
by R Allport, resized by Dean Thomas, 26 Aug 2002
The emblem sent by Dean Thomas is that of the former Rhodesian Air force.
This lion was found in the centre of the air force roundel which is also found in the fly of the Rhodesian Air Force flag.
Source: Flags and Symbols of Rhodesia, 1890-1980 (SAVA
Journal 5/96) by R Allport [aLL96].
Bruce Berry,
04 Sep 2002
In the last year of the Rhodesian War and the first few years of Zimbabwe's
independence, no national insignia of any sort were carried on Air Force aircraft. This was legal as long as the aircraft did not fly outside of the
country's borders.
Dov Gutterman, 28 June 2004
image
by Željko Heimer,
30 Nov 2003
Following the independence of Zimbabwe in April 1980, the air force was
renamed the Air Force of Zimbabwe and adopted a new emblem being a Bateleur
eagle in flight. The new air force flag retains the light blue field and
has the Zimbabwe flag in the canton with the air force emblem in gold in
the fly.
by Željko Heimer,
01 Dec 2003
The roundel of the Zimbabwe Air Force is concentric circles of the
national colours, viz white, black, red, yellow and green. A yellow
Zimbabwe Bird is also
placed on the fuselage and wings.
Bruce Berry, 17 Feb 1998
image by Željko Heimer,
01 Dec 2003
The aircraft fin flash on starboard side is an illustration of the
Great Zimbabwe Bird turned towards the front of the
aircraft. A note explains that the national flag is painted on the port side.
by Željko Heimer, 01 Dec 2003
In 1982, a new post-independence marking was introduced, featuring a yellow Zimbabwe bird sitting on the walls of Great Zimbabwe. This marking was displayed on the fin of the aircraft or on the fuselage of helicopters. No wing markings were displayed.
In 1994, a new roundel was introduced, featuring the national colours in concentric rings. Initially, the roundel was used in association with the
'Zimbabwe Bird' tail marking used previously, but this was soon replaced by the national flag. The main marking is normally displayed above and below each
wing and on each side of the fuselage.
Those are the marking at http://www.mig-21.de/Bilder/Simbabwe_1.jpg and http://www.acig.org/artman/uploads/afz_j-7iib_001_001.jpg and
http://www.scramble.nl/mil/1/afz/gfx/casa.jpg and
http://www.afavia-fotos.co.za/milr1/images/MR1006.jpg.
However, this seems to be changed, and today the Zimbabwe Bird is also used as fin
flash as shown at: http://www.scramble.nl/mil/1/afz/gfx/f7.jpg,
http://www.scramble.nl/mil/1/afz/gfx/sf260.jpg and
http://www.fighter-jets.de/fighterjets/luftwaffen/sim.jpg. (See also http://www.scramble.nl/zw.htm
http://www.fighter-jets.de/fighterjets/luftwaffen.php?land=sim&attr=sim&teil=s).
Dov Gutterman, 28 June 2004
