624
FLIGHT
13 May 1955
THE WORLD'S AIR F O R C E S . . . ETHIOPIA The Imperial Ethiopian Air Force DEVELOPED OVER a period of nine years, this Force now consists of a headquarters, at Addis Ababa; a training unit for pilots, navigators, meteorologists, radio operators and technicians, fitters, riggers and armourers; and an attack wing. A photographic section deals with aerial photography and survey, and there is a transport squadron, which achieves a high utilization on internal and international flights. The main duty of the Force, which is continually expanding, is national defence. Soon, it is hoped, a highly effective force of modern jet fighters will be built up; for the present the following types are in service: Saab 91B Safir (primary pilot-training); Saab B-17 (advanced pilot training); Fairey Firefly Mk 1 (ground attack, dive bombing and training); Stinson L-5 (communications); Cessna Crane (advanced pilot- and crew-training); Douglas DC-3 (transport); and D.H. Dove (transport). The Force is under the command of Brig.-Gen. Chr. Nilsson, K.S.O. 1st cL, R.N.O., Royal Swedish Air Force, and there is a staff of Swedish technicians and instructors. Three British instructors are also on the strength.
de Havilland Vampire F.B.52 (Egyptian A.F.).
Gloster Meteor F.4s (Egyptian A.F.).
FINLAND The Finnish Air Force IN accordance with the Peace Treaty signed in Paris in 1947, Finland may not possess aircraft designed primarily as bombers with internal bomb-carrying facilities, nor any guided missiles. The peace-time air force may not consist of more than 60 combat aircraft and 3,000 officers, N.C.O.s and men; in fact, the strength maintained since the Peace Treaty has been considerably less than allowed. Headquarters are at Helsinki, Munkkiniemi. There are wings at Jyvaskyla, Pori, and Utti, an air academy at Kaukava, and a depot at Tampere. The Force is charged with general interception duties and the support of land forces, and provides, in addition, aircraft for survey and ice reconnaissance. Primary trainers are the Swedishbuilt Valmet Viima and the German Focke-Wulf Stieglitz; advanced trainers are the Valmet Pyry and Vihuri II; the Fokker C.X serves as a target tug; the Bristol Blenheim and Douglas DC-2 for aerial photography; the Beechcraft for liaison duties; and the de Havilland Vampire as a fighter/trainer. It is planned to renew the obsolescent equipment, and on March 23rd the Financial Council of State Finance Committee decided to order four de Havilland Vampire Trainers. It has also been announced that a contract has been signed between Hunting Percival Aircraft, Ltd., and the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture for the supply of two Pembrokes, to be used primarily for survey. General Officer Commanding is Major General R. Artola.
D.H. Vampire F.B.52 (Finnish A.F.).
Valmet Vihuri (Finnish A.F.). (Below) Focke-Wulf Stieglitz (Finnish A.F.).
Fairey Firefly 7 (Imperial Ethiopian A.F.).
Saab-17s (Imperial Ethiopian A.F.).
Bristol Blenheim IV (Finnish A.F.).
Valmet Pyry (Finnish A.F.). (Below) Valmet Viima (Finnish A.F.).