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 II)

The first pilots of SyAAF standing infront of a unidentified propeller, this photo was taken in April 1947.

In Mazze air base, in the background a four-engined transporter looks similar to Lockheed L-049 Constellation. This photo is dated 29 October 1947.

Another photo for this transporter of the same date.

Also here.

In Mazze airbase in 1950.

Pilots and airmen in line in the first ceremony of independence in April 1948 in Mazze airbase.
Behind, a line of North American Harvard's.

Another photo of the same.

Awesome and wonderful shot of a Harvard with rear gun at the canopy, pilots used to name their aircraft !! At the engine's front cover painted in white "العنقاء" "The Phoenix".
The great pilot here "AbdulKarim Katma" just moments before taking off in order to perform his mission to bombard the Zionist's settlements in Palestine.
This photo is dated June 1948.

Another Harvard named "الصاعقة" "The Thunderbolt" in Mazze AFB also just before mounting the bombs on pylons, June 1948.

Another photo for the same Harvard, pilots and airmen with a bomb in the middle.
Note that previously, and during a war, a photograph must be taken for every pilot with his aircraft before carrying out his mission. June 1948.

SyAAF pilots used to help in mounting bombs and loading bullets into their aircraft.
June 1948, Mazze AFB.

Very rare shot for a SyAAF P.44 Proctor V which was mainly used for VIP transports. The photo was taken in Mazze airbase in 1 January 1947.

Another rare photo for the same, at least two Piper Cub's can be seen inside the hangar.

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.

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).

Wings Over Syria : NORTH AMERICAN T-6 TEXAN

Harvard or Texan joined the SyAAF in 1947~48 coming from the stock of South Africa and some from RAF forming two combat squadron based in Mazze AFB, some as far as I know based in the training base near Alep, I remember wreckage of some silver Texans (not in the same camo as above shown) were visible to public in the Aviation School in Aleppo city, that was in early 1990s before they shifted the school completely to other place.

Nice archive photo for this Texan, seems the artist inspired the above shown diagram from it.

Now believe it or not..!!! this is not a real Texan..!!! a perfect scaled flying model carry the very fine details including the pilot himself..!!!

I collected these amazing images from Strega's website, seems he is a professional modeller for flying warbirds...I would like to shake his hand for his fabulous artworks..!!!

The only remaining Texan of SyAAF is still surviving at the Military Museum in Damascus which was my daily way to faculty, when i go back there again I'll archive all aircrafts there for new posts.

Amazing how it looks in sky, just remove the antenna and no one would believe this is a scaled model.