The Swiss Air Force is the air component of the Swiss Armed Forces, established on 31 July 1914, three days after the outbreak of World War I, as a part of the army and in October 1936 as an independent service.
Swiss Bf 109-E3
Swiss P-51D
DH112 Venom Mk1R
DH100 Vampire Mk6
The Swiss Armed Forces operates on land and in the air, serving as the primary armed forces of Switzerland. Under the country's militia system, regular soldiers constitute a small part of the military and the rest are conscripts or volunteers aged 19 to 34. Because of Switzerland's long history of neutrality, the Swiss Armed Forces do not take part in conflicts in other countries, but do participate in international peacekeeping missions. Switzerland is part of the NATO Partnership for Peace programme.
The Battle of Sempach, 1386
Swiss soldiers with war pigeons during World War I
Military badge belonging to Julien Wyler, 1929, in the collection of the Jewish Museum of Switzerland
Veterans' dragoons squadron in 2006, presenting the uniform of 1972