Rhodesian Air Force

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Rhodesian Air Force
Badge of the Rhodesian Air Force
Active	1935–1980
Disbanded	April 1980
Country	Rhodesia
Allegiance	Southern Rhodesia (1935–53)  Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953–1963)  Southern Rhodesia[a] (1964–65)  Rhodesia (1965–79)  Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979)  United Kingdom (1979–1980)
Part of	Rhodesian Security Forces
Air Headquarters	New Sarum Air Force Base
Motto(s)	Latin: Alæ Præsidio Patriæ (Our wings are the fortress of the country)
March	Winged Assegais
Anniversaries	28 November
Engagements	World War II Rhodesian Bush War
Commanders
Air Officers Commanding	See Commanders
Insignia
Identification symbol	See Insignia

The Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) was an air force based in Salisbury (now Harare) which represented several entities under various names between 1935 and 1980: originally serving the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia, it was the air arm of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland between 1953 and 31 December 1963; of Southern Rhodesia once again from 1 January 1964; and of the unrecognised nation of Rhodesia following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from Britain on 11 November 1965.

Named the Royal Rhodesian Air Force (RRAF) from 1954, the "Royal" prefix was dropped in 1970 when Rhodesia declared itself a republic – the official abbreviation changed appropriately. When the internationally recognised country of Zimbabwe came into being in 1980, the RhAF became the Air Force of Zimbabwe.
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