Cookies & Privacy MFI-9 MiniCOIN, Biafran Babies - Pictures & Photos on FlightGlobal Airspace

MFI-9 MiniCOIN, Biafran Babies

Out Now---- JP Airline Fleets 2011/2012

 

Out now, order your copy now  JP airline fleets 2011/12

The latest edition provides full details of more than 60,000 aircraft and some 6,000 commercial and government operators worldwide. There is a wealth of data on each aircraft down to individual registration/serial number.

Also new for this year are Hexcodes for individual aircraft, this will replace the Selcal field.

Available in print, CD and print/CD combination.

You can also have your say and find out more about this product by joining the JP Airspace group

As well as the 800-page print directory, the information is also available as a PDF on CD or as a regular data feed for business users:

 

Bookmark and Share
 
MFI-9 MiniCOIN, Biafran Babies
posted by flyvertosset
Sat, Apr 2 2011


Downloads: 1,505
File size: 204.6kB
Views: 3,634

MFI-9 MiniCOIN (an acronym for "Miniature Counter-Insurrection").

The name and concept originated with Carl Gustaf von Rosen, who realized that in a low intensity conflict even a few small, minimally-armed aircraft are capable of having a significant impact. Light aircraft are in any event more suitable for operation in the primitive conditions typical in such conflicts. Von Rosen was familiar with the military trainer version of the MFI-9, which was robust enough to be able to carry significant loads of ordnance suspended from hard points on the wings. The aircraft were equipped wit two 6 x 68 mm Matra anti-armor rocket pods and had no defensive armaments.

 Count G. Von Rosen was originaly a Swedish nobleman and air force officer that for most of his life post WW-2 worked as a military adviser on air force matters to emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. During the Biafran war he took leave from his duties in Ethiopia and worked first with "the Gods airline" flying humanitarian aid missions with old Constelation and Skymaster piston engined transport planes to Biafra.Somewhat disenchanted with this passive role, he more or less built up a small Biafran airforce on his own, centered around 7 MFI-9 piston engined primary trainers (MFI = Malmö flygindustri).They were given simple sights and two pods for six 68 mm anti-armor rockets and an extra fuel tank in the fuselage. The mosquito-like planes were nicknamed "Biafran Babies." At first, the squadron had three Biafran and three Swedish pilots. 
 
On May 22, 1969, and over the next few days, Von Rosen and his five aircraft launched attacks against Nigerian air fields at Port Harcourt, Enugu, Benin and other small airports. The Nigerians were taken by surprise and a number of expensive jets, including a few MiG-17 fighters and three out of Nigeria's six Ilyushin Il-28 bombers, were destroyed on the ground.

 "Port Harcourt Airbase Attack- May 22, 1969"  painting by John Young