Historical Photos of SyAAF's First Equipments (Part III)

More great photos of the first SyAAF's aircraft I could put my hands on. A frontal shot for a SyAAF Piper Cub with a group of the first Syrian pilots.

Another shot for the same from the side. The red-arrow-pointed out pilot is the Syrian hero AbdulKareem Qatma.

Pilots, airmen and ground staff gathering in a hangar (could be in Mazze AFB), the edge of a wing belong to a SyAAF Piper Cub.

A photo belongs to 1954 shows a group of Syrian pilots gathering infront of a SyAAF Harvard Mk.II.

Yahya Al Ghazzi, another Syrian pilot standing infront of a Harvard Mk.II as well.

SyAAF airmen gathering infront of what it looks like a De Havilland Chipmunk.

At the end, a photo is taken for SyAAF units during an air force parade forming the word سوريا (Syria) in 1955. Apparently, there are two types of aircraft here.
Since 1970, the word أسد "Assad" has been added to be formed as well during the parade of the graduation of airmen !!

Historical Photos of SyAAF's First Equipments (Part I)

It's true that I might be the first one to reveal and bring to public the very first photos of SyAAF modern equipment (talking about those Su-24, MiG-29 and some others), but I never feel as proud as now to reveal again some fantastic historical photos of the first SyAAF equipments in the era of 40s and 50s, those considered the core of the Syrian Air Force !!

I believe this is the first time for a SyAAF biplane De Havilland DH 82 Tigermoth ever to be published !!
This photo shows the first Syrian Air Force pilots and airmen in 1950s.

WOW is allowed today !!
Again, the first time to see a SyAAF Fiat G.59.2A with a camo similar to that G.55A (the only photo of a SyAAF Fiat was available so far).

Another photo of a SyAAF Fiat G.59.2A.

In Mazze AFB and infront of a hangar accommodates Fiat G.59.2A inside.

In Mazze AFB as well, with three Fiat G.59.2A's on tarmac.

A photo for the first SyAAF heroes in Mazze AFB infront of Fiat's inside the hangar.

The same here...

During 40s and 50s, Mazze air base was very active especially during the war of Palestine in 1948.
The other variant of Fiat G.46B was based in Homs (Qsair) and Aleppo (Neyrab).

Awesome shot for a Fiat G.59.2A with the first SyAAF pilots infront. Note that some of this aircraft have their fans marked with "snail".

This photos is dated 14 February 1951.

The well known Piper Cub also first to appear here during its service life. The last EXAMPLE of this aircraft was in display in the "MILITARY MUSEUM" in Damascus before all aircraft were removed around 2008.

Close shot for the Piper Cub.

In Mazze AFB, the fighters in the background might be either Fiat G.55A or Spitfire F.Mk.22, the transporter behind could be one of those Dakota's SyAAF used in that period.

Photos from SyAAF DHAB'A AFB

 
On 18th April 2013, The FSyA (Free Syrian Army) succeeded to overrun the Dhab'a AFB (also known as Al-Qsair) which is abandoned since years ago and was on schedule to be prepared to be operated by Syrian Air.

Although the air base is abandoned, it was never to pass by anyone's mind the possibility to find any military aircraft left here. But that was untrue when four airframes were located in one of the two double-HAS!! Unfortunately, all these Fishbeds are phased out and not air-worthy anymore.

Among these MiG's, a 2320 MiG-21bis stands scrapped beside a MiG-21MF serialed 1554.

Another shot for the MiG-21bis.

In the second provision, a MiG-21MF with serial 1523 side by side with a MiG-21UM with serial 2367.

Rear shot for the MiG-21MF which carries the serial 1523.

This world is really tiny !! This 1554 MF preserved in this air base is the same ONE appeared in the movie "Squadron of Heroes" I posted two weeks ago !!

Rear photo for the MiG-21UM.

Its fin carries the serial 2367.

Since 2009 or little earlier this air base is mainly used for agriculture aircraft as the electronic maps (like Google) shows 6~7 units of two different types of propellers stationed in the tarmac.
The YK-AME here could be either a Cessna 188 or a Piper PA-25.

Another shot for the same propeller.

In the cabin of an unidentified variant of a high-wing Piper Cub propeller.

Another shot for this propeller showing its YK-AMK serial.

And here from front. Sadly someone has broken the front glass of this aircraft after been towed out of the hanger, providing that rectification of such light air vehicles is not as complicated as jets in order to make it air worthy again.

In this airbase, rebels could put hand on a lot of armament and weapons such as 23mm machine guns and shells, what's related to aviation are those Kh-66 air-to-surface missiles, they are developed from the AA-1 Alkali air-to-air missile which famously appeared fitted on the MiG-19's.

R-60 air-to-air missiles.

The same missile just unboxed.

Special Thanks to all whom commented hereunder to correct and enrich this post!

Air Force Museum - Dimashq / SYRIA

This must be the first of my "Air Force Museum"series, but till I could find the best photo reference (taken in 1996) published by Mr.Jetnoise at UK Airshow Review website.

The Army Museum in Damascus was almost my daily passage to university, but that time I didn't know that someday I will leave and the aircraft in display there will be shifted to an unknown destination !!

Starting with the Piper Super Cub which might be the first trainer to be acquired by SyAAF, few numbers were operated from Mennegh / Neyrab AB till mid 1960s.

North American Harvard reg. 44.

This trainer joined SyAAF in 1948 and operated mainly from Neyrab AB, this was the only surviving airframe of this type.

One airframe was seen in Mennegh AB in 1980's, not sure whether it is still there.

MiG-15UTI with serial 273, these aircraft started to be delivered to Syria in 1955.

The Czechoslovakian made Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin, an advanced trainer often in silver finish (MNF) and rarely seen camouflaged, operated mainly from the SyAAF Aviation Academy in Neyrab then Rasm Al Abboud AB (Kweres).

Many airframes of this types are found at Kshesh, Rasm Al Abboud and Neyrab AB's. 

An ex-Eastern German MiG-17 carries the serial 1196 delivered to Syria during the 1973 war.

First batch of this aircraft was delivered in 1957 and operated from Mazze AB near the capital; later on, 100's were delivered and operated from most of Syrian AFB's.

In late 1970's early 1980's all the fleet of this aircraft were withdrawn from service from their fully operational condition for unknown and obscure reason !! The most famous boneyard is located in Kshesh AB with around 60 units sadly laid there !!

MiG-21F-13 serialled 1864 looks in its original camo.

The 813 Su-7BMK as well, these aircraft afterwards, used to receive new paint year by year... 

A captured Gyrocopter plane (probably was used by Israelis to spy over Syria) reg. G-AXVL.

Aside these aircraft, there were few captured French tanks and vehicles in display in this Army Museum, in addition to the Capsule which carried the first Syrian spaceman to the exterior space (Mohammad Faris).