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1911 Turkish military aircraft 1st saw combat when Italy invaded Libya, part of the Ottoman Empire.
and bombing missions against the Ottoman Army. Ottoman forces, however, had the honor of being the 1st to force down a war plane and capture the pilot. Earlier that year the Turkish Minister of War had directed establishment of an aircraft commission in Istanbul. Turkey's 1st airfield was built near Istanbul and later became the Ataturk International Airport. Two hangars were built and the training of pilots, and purchase of French, German and British aircraft began. 1912 The Turkish Air Force saw action in the Balkan War. With only 17 aircraft, it's pilots primarily flew reconnaissance. 1914 The U.S. made it's 1st aircraft sale to Turkey, a Curtiss seaplane. W.W.I began shortly afterwards. At the war's beginning, Turkey had only 5 aircraft and 6 pilots, but with the help of it's German and Austrian allies, the Turkish Air Force soon expanded to 450 aircraft, many piloted by Germans. By war's end, Turkey had still had almost 100 pilots and 17 land- based and three seaplane companies of four aircraft each (80 total). During W.W.I Turkish and German pilots sank several British ships in the Aegean and shot down numerous British, French, and Russian aircraft. Following the Armistice, the Ottoman Empire was dismantled, most of the Army, including the air forces, disarmed. The Western Powers then moved to occupy many of the regions of Anatolia. Mustafa Kemal, later known as Ataturk, rallied forces against the invaders, to gain Turkey's independence. 1919 At the beginning of the national struggle, the Turks had no aircraft. March 1920 The Turkish Air Force was reestablished when pilots and others met to assemble aircraft from smuggled parts. The 1st national air force was founded with two aircraft in Adana. But, soon there were 17 aircraft, a mixture of Albatros (German), Breguet (French) , Fiat (Italian), De Havilland and Spad models (English), which made limited strikes and conducted reconnaissance. When the War of Independence ended in 1922, the Air Force had grown to a group consisting of companies at Izmir, Afyon, and Bandirma. 1928 The Air Ministry was established with 3 battalions, soon to be raised to regiment level in 1932, and brigade level in 1939. Turkey's 3 main bases were Eskisehir, Diyarbakir and Izmir. Before World War II began, an aircraft factory was builtto produce Curtiss Hawk fighters. Polish PZL and French Morane fighters were purchased. The Turks also acquired a number of bombers, including German Heinkels, British Blenheims, and American Martins and Vultees. Turkey remained neutral through most of World War II, and as a result, the Turkish Air Force obtained aircraft from both Axis and Allied powers. Turkey even acquired a few American B-24 bombers interned after forced landings following the Ploesti raid of 1943.
The Air Force became an independent service in , and after the war, Turkey purchased surplus British Spitfires, Mosquitos and Beaufighters before the U.S. became a major supplier of it's aircraft. 1946 After declaration of the "Truman Doctrine," the Joint American Mission for Aid to Turkey (JAMMAT, later known as JUSMMAT) begins in Ankara. 1948 Turkey received P-47 fighters, B-26 bombers and C-47 transports along with training, supply and maintenance systems. 1951 Turkey entered the jet age with the F-84. 1952 Turkey joined NATO and NATO's 1st female pilot was a Turk. Other American aircraft flown by the Turkish Air Force include the T-33, F-86, F-100, F-102, F-104, F-4, F-5, F-16, KC-135, C-130. 1964 Turkey's Air Force saw very limited action in the Cyprus police operation. 1974 TAF was extensively involved in the Cyprus invasion. Since joining the NATO, the Turkish Air Force has undergone many changes. Today, it is composed of the; - FirstTactical Air Force at Eskisehir - Second Tactical Air Force at Diyarbakir - Air Training Command headquartered at Izmir. It is presently using your tax $$$ to buy Israeli up-grades for it's U.S. aircraft, so it can more effectively destroy the Kurds.
12/19/97 |
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