Last modified: 2022-10-22 by bruce berry
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According to its
website, the origin of the Nigerian Defence Forces
dates back to 1863
when the Hausa Constabulary was formed by the British. The Constabulary
metamorphosed into the West Africa Frontier Force (WAFF) and then into the
Nigerian Regiment in 1956. It was then completely a land-based force.
Later, the need to protect and patrol the Nigerian coastline and its resources
led to the creation of the Nigerian Navy in 1956.
These were the components of the Nigerian Armed Forces until 1962 when the idea
of establishing an air force for Nigeria was first muted. The idea was triggered
by the difficulties encountered when the country was called upon to participate
in two foreign military operations in war-torn Republic of
Congo in the early 1960s and to quell military insurrections in Tanganyika
(now Tanzania) in 1959. These missions saw Nigeria
relying on civil aircraft or foreign air forces to convey her men and logistics
to the theatre of conflict. Consequently, the establishment of a Nigerian Air
Force was accepted in principle and the Nigerian Government approached a number
of countries for assistance in training of Nigerian pilots as well as
establishing the Force.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was formally established on 18 April 1964 with the
passage of the Air Force Act 1964 by the Nigerian Parliament. The Act summarised
the objectives of the NAF as follows:
The Nigerian Air Force shall be charged with the defence of the Federal
Republic by air, and to give effect thereto, the personnel shall be trained in
such duties as in the air as well as on the ground.
Bruce Berry, 21 Sept 2013
The design of the flag of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is based on that of
the Royal Air Force. The flag has a sky (light)
blue background with the Nigerian
national flag in the canton and the NAF roundel in the centre of the fly.
The sky blue colour signifies the clear operating environment in the sky.
Bruce Berry, 21 Sept 2013
image
sent by
Bruce Berry, 21 Sept 2013
As with the NAF flag, the NAF Colour has a sky (light) blue background with
the Nigerian national flag in the canton and the NAF crest, as shown above, in
the fly. The crest has the national coat of arms placed above the NAF logo
which has an eagle in flight holding the national flag over what I think are
wheat leaves, all in yellow, under which is a scroll with the words "NIGERIAN
AIR FORCE" in black letters.
Bruce Berry, 21 Sept 2013
![[NAF roundel]](../images/n/ng_round.gif)
image by Željko Heimer,
05 July 2002The Nigerian Air Force uses a roundel in the colours its national flag -
concentric circles of green-white-green. (Source: Albums des Pavillons
[pay00].
Željko Heimer, 05 July 2002
![[NAF roundel]](../images/n/ng^fin.gif)
image by Dov Gutterman
and Željko Heimer, 11 Oct 1999The Nigerian Air Force uses a square national flag as its fin flash
Dov Gutterman, 11 Oct 1999