Haitian Aviation Corps

The formerly named Haitian Air Corps was founded in 1942 with aircraft supplied by the US.{{Cite web |title=Haiti Air Force |url=https://aeroflight.co.uk/waf/americas/haiti/Haiti-af-home.htm |website=Aeroflight}} The main task for this new air force was transport and communication. The Haitian Air Corps was headquartered at Bowen Field which was a former U.S. Marine Corps airfield. Môle-Saint-Nicolas Airport was a secondary airfield. During World War II, the Haitian Air Corps was engaged in the Caribbean anti submarine warfare campaign against the German Navy.{{Cite book|last=Hagedorn|first=Dan|title=Latin American Air Wars and Aircraft 1912-1969|publisher=Hikori Publications|year=2006|isbn=9781902109442|pages=119}} In 1950 the Haitian Air Corps received its first combat aircraft: six F-51D Mustangs which were active during the Duvalier period. In October 1970 the Mustangs were replaced by T-28 Trojans from France. The T-28s were then replaced by O-2As in 1975. In the 1980s the Haitian Air Corps received its first jet aircraft: the SIAI-Machetti S-211 and these were accompanied by SF-260s to replace the O-2s which were sold for parts. In 1990 the SIAI-Machetti S-211s were sold, 2 were sold to United States private companies and the other two were sold to the Singapore Air Force.{{Cite web|title=Haiti - Forces Armées d'Haïiti [FAd'H]|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/haiti/fadh.htm|access-date=2021-03-23|website=globalsecurity.org}} During Operation Uphold Democracy, the Haitian Air Corps played almost no role in Haitian defence, the Haitian inventory at the time included: Two O-57 Grasshopper scout planes, Three BT-13 Valiant trainer planes, One C-78 Bobcat transport plane, and one C-46 Commando transport plane.{{Cite web |author=((jwh1975)) |date=2015-06-09 |title=Uphold Democracy 1994: WWII weapons encountered |url=https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2015/06/09/uphold-democracy-1994-wwii-weapons-encountered/ |access-date=2021-03-23 |website=wwiiafterwwii |language=en}} Almost all of the inventory at the time of the invasion dated back to World War II and was in very poor condition at the time, the air corps was disbanded along with the rest of the armed forces in 1994.

File:Lynn Garrison and crew with Haitian Corps d'Aviation Marchetti S-211 prior to flight in 1990.jpg with Haitian Corps d'Aviation Marchetti and crew, September 1990]]

File:MARCHETTI SF-260TP HAITI.jpg

At the time of disbandment of the Haitian Air Corps composed of:

Many of Haiti's air force aircraft were donated second hand from the United States and France:

• North American Aviation F-51D Mustang fighters – 6 delivered 1950 and the last retired 1973/74, sold to Dominican Republic for parts
• North American Aviation T-28 Trojan fighter trainer – 12 ex-French Air Force delivered 1973
• Cessna O-2A Skymaster – 8 observation aircraft delivered 1975 and sold to Dominican Republic for parts
• Sikorsky S-55 utility helicopters
• Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando transport
• de Havilland Mosquito light bomber – 8 ex-Royal Air Force delivered 1946
• de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver/de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter utility transport
• Hughes Helicopters 269C utility/trainer helicopter – 3
• Hughes Helicopters 369CC utility/trainer helicopter – 2
• Sikorsky S-58T (CH-34 ChoctawC)
• Aermacchi SF.260TP Warrior trainer
• Cessna 150 – 3/
• Cessna 172 Skyhawk trainer – 1
• Lockheed C-60 Lodestar
• Boeing S-307 Stratoliner
• Cessna 310
• Douglas C-47 Dakota
• Beech 58 Baron
• Cessna 402 Utililiner
• IAI 201 Arava
• Piper PA-34 Seneca
• Cessna 303
• Beech 65 Queen Air
• Fairchild PT-19 trainer
• North American Aviation North American T-6G Texan trainer
• Vultee Aircraft Vultee BT-13A Valiant trainer
• Beech Bonanza F33 trainer
• SIAI-Machetti S-211 jet trainer, retired and put up for sale on 23 April 1990, 2 sold to United States Private companies and 2 to Republic of Singapore Air Force

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In 2021, talks were held between Dr. Louis Marie Montfort Saintil, the Ambassador of Haiti in Spain, and Colonel Carlos Sanchez Bas of the Spanish Air and Space Force in the objectives of exploring avenues of cooperation, more precisely in the field of reorganization and modernization of the Aeronautical Corps of the Armed Forces of Haiti.{{Cite web |date=7 October 2021 |title=Une nouvelle approche de la coopération entre la République d'Haïti et le Royaume d'Espagne. |url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Kw91T94hu6koapG1/ |publisher=Ambassade de la République d'Haiti près le Royaume d'Espagne |via=Facebook}}

The Argentine Air Force has been providing technical assistance to the FAD'H via the Escuela de Aviación Militar, where 2 Haitian cadets are currently in attendance.{{Cite web |last=Ambassade Haïti en Argentine |date=6 February 2023 |title=Les étudiants haïtiens de la force aérienne argentine ont été respectivement reçus dans leur base ce lundi 6 février à Cordoba : Mademoiselle Anthea Roodayna Tchesly MONTINÉ à l'école des cadets, par le Chef du Corps des Cadettes, le Vice-Commandant Pablo Muñoz de TORO et Monsieur Kendji MOROSE, de l'école des sous-officiers, par le Commandant Antonio Victor PEREZ ESPAÑON. Notons qu'ils ont été accompagnés de la Ministre Conseiller Olga Médor Ducasse. |url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/KXGzQPrgcqFeFC6v/ |website=Facebook}} On 16 March 2023, Ambassador Vilbert Bélizaire and Brigadier General Xavier Isaac signed a cooperation protocol between the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic and the Armed Force of Haiti, formalizing a program of training and technical assistance from the Escuela de Aviacion to the FAD'H.{{Cite web |last=Ambassade Haïti en Argentine |date=16 March 2023 |title=Signature du protocole de Coopération entre la Force Aérienne Argentine représentée par le Brigadier Général Xavier Julian ISAAC et la République d'Haiti représentée par Son Excellence Dr. Vilbert BELIZAIRE |url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/s2J13gJ15Zz4L4TG/ |website=Facebook}}

In an interview with Le Nouvelliste on December 23rd, 2024, Mexican Chargé d'Affaires to Haiti, Mr. Jésus Cisneros, stated that Mexico would be providing pilot training to a select group of Haitian servicemen.{{Cite web |title=Mexico Supports the Strengthening of Haiti's Armed Forces, Says Jesús Cisneros |url=https://lenouvelliste.com/en/article/252030/securite-le-mexique-appuie-le-developpement-des-forces-armees-dhaiti-selon-jesus-cisneros |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=lenouvelliste.com |language=en}}

The main garrison of the Aviation Corps is the Military Aviation Base (Base de l'Aviation Militaire) in Clercine, Port-au-Prince (next door to Toussaint Louverture International Airport). It previously housed a Chilean Air Force battalion of the MINUSTAH.

There are no aircraft currently in the inventory of the Aviation Corps. After a meeting between Presidents Leslie Voltaire (coordinator of the Transitional Presidential Council at the time) and Emmanuel Macron, a press release informed that France would evaluate the aerial needs of Haitian security forces.

• Maj. Eberle Guilbaud (1920–1959)

• Lt. Raymond Cassagnol (1920–2023)

• Capt. Alix Pasquet (1919–1958)

• Lt. Ludovic Audant

• Lt. Nicolas Pelissier

• Col. Serge Bourdeau

• Lt. Col. Gustave Silva

• Armed Forces of Haiti
• Haitian Army
• Military history of Haiti
• Haitian National Police

{{Air forces}}

Category:Air forces by country

Category:Aviation in Haiti

Category:Military of Haiti