Bahrain Patch Defence Force Air Wing Pilot Qualification

Bahrain Patch Defence Force Air Wing Pilot Qualification Air Force Wings Bo 105C Helicopter 1976 Bahrain International Airport embroidered on wool 74mm by 98mm two and seven eighth inches by three and seven eighth inches.

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History

The Bahrain State Police was established in 1962 to provide internal security under the British protectorate. BSP formed its Flying Wing at at Bahrain International Airport Manama with a Westland Scout helicopter obtained in June 1965 receiving a second Scout in 1966. BSP was redesignated Bahrain Public Security on independence from Britain in 1971 and became a component of the newly established Bahrain Defense Force BDF set up to provide all service military protection.

Bahrain Defense Force began sending cadet pilots and technical personnel to friendly countries to receive training in aviation and aircraft maintenance commencing in October 1974 and formed its military Air Wing on 8 May 1976 with two Bo 105C helicopters tasked with ground forces transport support defence of borders and territorial waters search and rescue liaison and communications duties joining the Bahrain Public Security Flying Wing at Bahrain International Airport Manama. BDF Air Wing received an additional Bo 105C helicopter in 1977 and frequently undertook operations with Bahrain Public Securitys Flying Wing. The Bahrain Amiri Flight was activated in 1978 equipped with a Gulfstream IIT for State VIP transport duties.

Construction of a new US Army Corps of Engineers designed helicopter air base at Al Riffa commenced in May 1979 with the Air Wings helicopters relocating there on 4 September 1979 and twelve AB 212 and Twin Huey helicopters were received in 1980. Bahrain formed part of the Gulf Cooperation Council with five other Gulf kingdoms and emirates in 1981 which as well as economic cooperation established the defence arrangement as the Peninsular Shield Force. A Boeing 727 2M7 aircraft joined the Bahrain Amiri Flight in 1981 and a Gulfstream G550 in 1983.

BDF Air Wing expanded to jet fixed wing aircraft with pilots and technician undertaking training in the US and GCC member states with 1 Fighter Wing activated at Bahrain International Airport Manama in early 1985 to control its new fighter unit 6 Fighter Squadron formed at Muharraq AB in December 1985 to operate eight F 5E and four F 5F Tiger II jet aircraft tasked with air defence interception.

The Bahrain Defense Force was reorganised into separate Army Navy and Air force branches with the Air Wing redesignated Bahrain Amiri Air Force BAAF in 1987. The Air Wings helicopter force was designated Helicopter Wing and 3 Squadron activated to operate the twelve AB 212 helicopters and 7 Squadron activated to operate the three Bo 105C helicopters. Bahrain Amiri Navys SAR and patrol Bo 105CBS 4 helicopter at Al Riffa AB was designated 5 Naval Air Squadron. Construction of a large modern air base Shaikh Isa Air Base in the south of Sitra Island commenced in 1987 funded by the US and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

BAAF technical personnel were trained by GCC Air Forces and some sent to US for training by USAF. BAAF established the Bahrain Amiri Air Force Technical Institute at Riffa AB in January 1989 to provide basic and advanced technical training and the preparation of personnel for specialist training abroad and as with Royal Saudi Air Force commences with an intense English language course prior to technical and officer training at the Institute or abroad. BAAF sent a number of F 5 pilots and technicians to MacDill AFB Florida in May 1989 for F 16 conversion training.

1 Fighter Wing and 6 Squadron F 5s relocated to Shaikh Isa Air Base on its completion in early 1990. 1 Fighter Squadron was activated at Shaikh Isa AB with its US trained BAAF pilots and technicians to operate eighteen F 16C and four F 16D two seat training Fighting Falcons ordered from the US under the Peace Crown programme with delivery commencing on 23 May 1990. The F 16s took over the Air Defence role while 6 Fighter Squadron with its F 5s was retasked to close air support ground attack anti shipping attack advanced jet pilot training with F 16 pilots required to complete 300 F 5 hours prior to application for F 16 conversion and dissimilar air combat training.

Following the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait BAAF Air Bases were used by US and Coalition Forces including Free Kuwait Air Force assets with the British RAF operating from Muharraq AB. BAAF F 5 and F 16 aircraft joined the Coalition to defend and liberate Kuwait after its invasion by Iraq in August 1990 undertaking defensive missions during Operation Desert Shield and offensive combat missions during Operation Desert Storm from 26 January 1991.

Shaikh Isa AB continued to host US Coalition Forces including deployments for Operation Southern Watch and Desert Fox. While BAAF aircraft did not participate in the ongoing operations they continued with their Gulf Cooperation Council Peninsular Shield Force responsibility shared with Royal Saudi Air Force F 15C fighters from Dhahran AB for air defence alert for the Sector B region covering Bahrain parts of Saudi Arabia and Qatari air space. 1 Fighter Squadron also provided F 16s as aggressor adversaries for Royal Saudi Air Forces Fighter Weapons School at Dhahran AB.

BAAF activated 8 Squadron at Riffa AB in 1994 to operate six TAH 1P Cobra training helicopters twenty four AH 1E Cobra attack helicopters tasked with anti tank and close air support ground attack operations. 9 Squadron was activated to operate one UH 60L and one UH 60A90 Blackhawk helicopters delivered in 1995 tasked with VIP transport operations. The Bahrain Amiri Flight received a Boeing 747SP Z5 and one Boeing 747SP21 4P8 in 1999.

The Armys Air Defense Systems with its Hawk Phase III air defence missiles was reassigned to Bahrain Amiri Air Force which formed Air Defense Wing in 1999 and with the input from early warning radars the  Air Operations and Air Defense Center was established to coordinated the various Air Force sectors and operations centres of neighbouring and friendly forces.

2 Fighter Squadron was activated at Shaikh Isa Air Base in 2000 assigned to 1 Fighter Wing to operate ten new F 16C Block 40E Fighting Falcon aircraft received under Peace Crown II programme commencing in October 2000. 2 Fighter Squadron received two F 16D dual control trainers transferred from 1 Fighter Squadron to assist conversion training. A Bae 146 RJ85 aircraft joined the Bahrain Royal Flight in 2001.

Bahrain changed from an emirate to a kingdom following elections on 14 February 2002 resulting in the renaming of the Armed Forces with BAAF redesignated the Royal Bahraini Air Force RBAF Shaikh Isa Air Base was redesignated Isa Air Base and the Bahrain Amiri Flight was renamed the Bahrain Royal Flight.

RBAF activated Flying Training Wing at Isa Air Base in 2002 as it established its pilot training academy under an agreement with Bae Systems entered into in July 2000. 4 Elementary and Basic Flying Training Squadron was activated to operate three T 67 Firefly aircraft received in January 2003 to begin basic pilot training. Shaikh Isa AB hosted US Coalition Forces for Operation Iraqi Freedom but RBAF did not participate in the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. The Bahrain Royal Flight received a Gulfstream IVSP in 2003.

10 Squadron was activated at Riffa AB to operate nine ex US Army AH 1F Cobra attack helicopters delivered in April 2005 tasked with anti tank and close air support operations. 5 Flying Training Squadron was activated at Isa AB assigned to Training Wing to operate six Hawk 129 fast jet aircraft for advanced flying training delivered in October 2006 with a secondary light attack role. The Bahrain Royal Flight received a Bae 146 RJ100 aircraft in 2006 an S 92A Helibus helicopter in 2008 followed by a Boeing 767 4SFER and a Bell 430 helicopter in 2009.

12 Squadron was activated to operate nine UH 60M Black Hawk helicopters with delivery commencing on 1 December 2009 tasked for transport and combat search and rescue CSAR. RBAF activated Mobility Wing initially equipped with the BAe146 RJ85 aircraft used by the Bahraini Royal Flight to form the foundation of the Wing with further transport aircraft due to join the Wings inventory.

RBAF deployed F 16 aircraft and personnel to Jordan on 15 February 2015 joining United Arab Emirates Air Force aircraft for combat operations against ISIS as part of the Gulf Cooperation Council contribution. RBAF undertook combat operations as part of the Saudi Arabia led GCC coalition Operation Decisive Storm deploying fifteen F 16 aircraft to bases in Saudi Arabia in March 2015 for missions against Houthi rebel forces in Yemen with its deployment ongoing.

This patch dates from 1976.