Tanzanian Cessna U-12C Pima

[comrade harps]

Cessna U-12C Pima
a/c 5503, Tactical Air Control Squadron, Tanzanian Air Force
Untupa airstrip, Mozambique, September 1970
Personal mount of Lt. Simon Msuva



Development of the Cessna 180 Skywagon began as a private civilian venture before the outbreak of WW3 in 1950. Developed from the Cessna 170 as a four-seat light utility aircraft, it was adopted by the US Army as the L-21 Pima; and later as the U-12 under the Tri-Service Designation System. In addition to US military customers, the L-21/U-12 was exported to many UN allies and neutral nations. Used for liaison, light cargo delivery, artillery spotting and FAC, the type proved to be popular and was followed by the similar Cessna 185/U-17 series in the 1960s.




Tanganyika gained its independence from the Free British government in 1954. The brief but brutal Tanganyika Crisis of 1952 had forced the weak Free British to accept independence. In the neighbouring islands of the Zanzibar Archipelago, the Free British were unable to enforce their Protectorate status to defend its Arab Sultanate; in January 1956, overwhelmed by days of rioting, the Sultan was forced into exile and a moderate government emplaced, which immediately sought unification with Tanganyika. The United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar was founded on 23 April 1958, changing its name to the United Republic of Tanzania on 29 October the same year.




The United States supported the independence of both Tanganyika and Zanzibar from Free British rule. Concerned that the weakness of the Free British would result in a power vacuum exploited by Communists, the US was influential in managing resolutions to nationalist aspirations in Tanganyika and Zanzibar. As a result, the Tanzanian armed forces came to be largely trained and equipped by America. For the Tanzanian Air Force and Army, this meant that US designed aircraft dominated their inventories, which by 1980 included the T-37C and A-37B, AH-1G, AT-28D Fennec, C-12A, C-130B, CH-47D, F-86F, NF-5A/B/NRF-5A, OH-6A, OH-13G, U-12C, U-17A, U-21A and UH-1D/H/N. The only major variation from this pattern was the acquisition of Dassault Canada Mirage 5s in several batches from 1965-66.




The first American plane supplied directly to Tanzania was the Cessna U-12C Pima. 8 were delivered in 1958 to the Tanzanian Army, with a further 25 furnished to the Tanzanian Air Force by 1970. Used for liaison, light transport, observation and border patrols, they originally wore an all over white or pale gray scheme. From 1967 Tanzanian Air Force U-12C aircrew were trained to UN standards as Forward Air Controllers (FACs), their aircraft camouflaged and armed with 2.75" FFAR (Folding Fin Aircraft Rockets) for target marking.




After the tragic fiasco of the Salisbury Alliance's Operation About Time in October 1966, Tanzania began to directly intervene in Mozambique. In March 1967, Operation Refuge was launched by Tanzania in collaboration with the pro-UN Mozambique Liberation Army (MLA) to establish a liberated zone north of the Pemba-Lichinga Line. This resulted in a series of ongoing campaigns.



This Tanzanian Air Force U-12C Skywagon was photographed at Untupa airstrip in northern Mozambique during September 1970. The personal mount of Lt. Simon Msuva, it is carrying 4 2.75 inch FFARs for target marking. Untupa was used as a dispersal location in response to Free Portuguese and Rhodesian airstrikes against larger airfields. At the time, the Tanzanians and the MLA were on the defensive, as both FRELIMO and RENAMO forces were successful at infiltrating deep into their liberated zone. RENAMO had been established in 1968 from FRELIMO dissidents with support by the Rhodesian Central Intelligence Organisation; it was used as an indigenous proxy to support the Free Portuguese. The U-12Cs were replaced in the FAC role by Cessna O-2A Skymasters during 1971. Lt Msuva would go on to FAC in Skymasters until 19 March 1972, killed when his aircraft was shot down by FRELIMO near Litunde, Mozambique.

[Sport21ing]

Excellent aircraft, as awlays 

[Old Wombat]

 

[zenrat]

 

[Dizzyfugu]

Exotic! 

[chrisonord]

Very nice 

[su27rules]

      Nice!!