Mustafa Mohamed Moalim
Encyclopedia
Mustafa Mohamed Moalim (b. 25 March 1943 – 27 December 2009) was prominent Somali
pilot
.
, Mustafa volunteered as a fighter pilot, swearing to defend the young Somali nation from foreign threats. He remained with the Somali Air Force from 1960 to 1978, and eventually became a Senior Commercial Pilot with Somali Airlines
from 1979 to 1991.
, Somalia
to a veterinary father and a housewife mother. He had one older brother Dr. Abdulkadir Mohamed Moalim a well know veterinarian. Because of his father’s constant move to different regions he and his brother grew up in different cities in Somalia such as Mogadishu
, Baidoa
, Afgooye
and Beledweyne
. According to his Cousin and colleagues Mustafa used to draw planes during his childhood becoming interested in flying and wanting to be a pilot. After earning high marks in his elementary school in Baidoa
, at the age of 11, he was chosen to attend Italian schools including the Liceo Dinesa in Mogadishu. In 1959, Mustafa graduated at the top of his class from the Collegio Magistrale.
. He trained first at Egypt
with Egyptian Air Force
, where he made his first solo flight in a military aircraft. Sometime in 1961 he attended the Soviet air force pilot training school in Moscow where he was trained on the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
. As a young officer, Mustafa served as a fighter pilot and was later appointed as fighter air squadron commander and flight training officer. In 1966 he trained at the Scuola AVvanzato Base Elica in Latina
, Italy
, eventually becoming a licensed flight instructor for military transport aircraft such as the C-45 Expeditor and C-47 Skytrain
or Dakota (Douglas DC-3). In 1969 he was trained as pilot and flight instructor for a jet bomber Ilyushin Il-28
while he attended and graduated from the combined arms academy Frunze Military Academy, in Moscow. Upon returning to Somalia in 1973-74, he was promoted commander of the Balidoogle Air Force base, where he built Somalia's first Air Force School and became the first Chief of the Somali Air Force School. In 1975, he earned a Master of Military Arts and Science diploma from the Cosmonaut Academy in Kiev
, Ukraine
in the former USSR.
During the Somali-Ethiopian conflict in 1977-78, his military career reached its zenith when he became Chief of Somali Air Force Operations and Commander of Air force for Northwestern Somali Regions, Air force bases in Hargeisa and Berbera and was credited to have led the establishment of Somali’s air superiority during the war. In Somali-Ethiopian conflict Mustafa is also credited to have shot down two enemy aircraft over Ogadenia territory and carrying out numerous strategic long distance bombing. In November 1978 Mustafa became the Air Force Academy's commander and a year later with request from the office of the presidency he was transferred and employed by Somali Airlines where he taught different courses and supervised many Pilots.
where he oversaw the growth of the Somali Airlines into an international Airlines. He help bring first commercial jet planes Boeing 707
to Somali Airlines
serving as Captain pilot and flight instructor after studying at American Air Academy in Dallas, Texas
. In 1987, he become licenced flight instructor in Airbus A310
after studying at Airbus training center in Toulouse, France. In Total, he had 33 years and more than 27000 hours of flying experience. He served as an Instructor Airline Pilots and national Technical member. He gained thousands of hours of flight experience to destinations across Africa
, Middle East
, Asia
and Europe
.
and Economics
instructor and expert in Pedagogy
, with whom he has six sons and two daughters (Kamaludin, Zahra, Nuradin, Shamsudin, Rahma, Mohamed, Sakhawadin and Fakhrudin). He also has 28 grandchildren.
Mustafa has always refused in participating in any form of the current Somali civil war by maintaining a neutral ground and staying away clan politics. He loved his country and people and spent his last moments in exile in Moorhead, Minnesota with his wife, children, grandchildren and other extended family members. Mustafa died on December 27, 2009 and was buried in Fargo Islamic Cemetery in Fargo, North Dakota.
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
.
Biography
At the age of 17 in post-independence SomaliaSomalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, Mustafa volunteered as a fighter pilot, swearing to defend the young Somali nation from foreign threats. He remained with the Somali Air Force from 1960 to 1978, and eventually became a Senior Commercial Pilot with Somali Airlines
Somali Airlines
Somali Airlines was the flag carrier of Somalia.-History and destinations:The carrier was formed in March 1964 as the national airline of the country with the aid of Alitalia, which initially held a 50% controlling stake in the company, and the Somali government held the balance...
from 1979 to 1991.
Early life
Mustafa Moalim was born in MogadishuMogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
to a veterinary father and a housewife mother. He had one older brother Dr. Abdulkadir Mohamed Moalim a well know veterinarian. Because of his father’s constant move to different regions he and his brother grew up in different cities in Somalia such as Mogadishu
Mogadishu
Mogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
, Baidoa
Baidoa
Baidoa is a city in south-central Somalia, situated by road northwest of the capital Mogadishu. It is the capital of the Bay region, which is traditionally inhabited by the Digil and Mirifle clans....
, Afgooye
Afgooye
-Location:It is situated about 25 kilometres west of Mogadishu, the nation's capital. The Shabelle River passes through the middle of the town.-History:Afgooye was part of Italian Somaliland during the early part of the 20th century...
and Beledweyne
Beledweyne
Beledweyne is a city in central Somalia. It is the capital of the Hiraan province, and is located in the central valley of the Shebelle river near the Ogaden, some 206 miles north of Mogadishu, the nation's capital. The Shebelle river divides the town into east and west...
. According to his Cousin and colleagues Mustafa used to draw planes during his childhood becoming interested in flying and wanting to be a pilot. After earning high marks in his elementary school in Baidoa
Baidoa
Baidoa is a city in south-central Somalia, situated by road northwest of the capital Mogadishu. It is the capital of the Bay region, which is traditionally inhabited by the Digil and Mirifle clans....
, at the age of 11, he was chosen to attend Italian schools including the Liceo Dinesa in Mogadishu. In 1959, Mustafa graduated at the top of his class from the Collegio Magistrale.
Military career
At the age of 17 Mustafa volunteered and was chosen to become a fighter pilotFighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
. He trained first at Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
with Egyptian Air Force
Egyptian Air Force
The Egyptian Air Force, or EAF , is the aviation branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces. The EAF is headed by an Air Marshal . Currently, the commander of the Egyptian Air Force is Air Marshal Reda Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed...
, where he made his first solo flight in a military aircraft. Sometime in 1961 he attended the Soviet air force pilot training school in Moscow where he was trained on the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was a jet fighter developed for the USSR by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich. The MiG-15 was one of the first successful swept-wing jet fighters, and it achieved fame in the skies over Korea, where early in the war, it outclassed all straight-winged enemy fighters in...
, Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 is a high-subsonic fighter aircraft produced in the USSR from 1952 and operated by numerous air forces in many variants. Most MiG-17 variants cannot carry air-to-air missiles, but shot down many aircraft with its cannons...
. As a young officer, Mustafa served as a fighter pilot and was later appointed as fighter air squadron commander and flight training officer. In 1966 he trained at the Scuola AVvanzato Base Elica in Latina
Latina
Latina is the feminine form of the term Latino.Latina may also refer to:*Province of Latina, a province in Latium , Italy**Latina, Lazio, the capital of the province of Latina**Latina Nuclear Power Plant*Latina , a district of Madrid...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, eventually becoming a licensed flight instructor for military transport aircraft such as the C-45 Expeditor and C-47 Skytrain
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
or Dakota (Douglas DC-3). In 1969 he was trained as pilot and flight instructor for a jet bomber Ilyushin Il-28
Ilyushin Il-28
The Ilyushin Il-28 is a jet bomber aircraft of the immediate postwar period that was originally manufactured for the Soviet Air Force. It was the USSR's first such aircraft to enter large-scale production. It was also licence-built in China as the Harbin H-5. Total production in the USSR was 6,316...
while he attended and graduated from the combined arms academy Frunze Military Academy, in Moscow. Upon returning to Somalia in 1973-74, he was promoted commander of the Balidoogle Air Force base, where he built Somalia's first Air Force School and became the first Chief of the Somali Air Force School. In 1975, he earned a Master of Military Arts and Science diploma from the Cosmonaut Academy in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
in the former USSR.
During the Somali-Ethiopian conflict in 1977-78, his military career reached its zenith when he became Chief of Somali Air Force Operations and Commander of Air force for Northwestern Somali Regions, Air force bases in Hargeisa and Berbera and was credited to have led the establishment of Somali’s air superiority during the war. In Somali-Ethiopian conflict Mustafa is also credited to have shot down two enemy aircraft over Ogadenia territory and carrying out numerous strategic long distance bombing. In November 1978 Mustafa became the Air Force Academy's commander and a year later with request from the office of the presidency he was transferred and employed by Somali Airlines where he taught different courses and supervised many Pilots.
Commercial pilot
In 1979 Mustafa Mohamed Moalim was employed at Somali AirlinesSomali Airlines
Somali Airlines was the flag carrier of Somalia.-History and destinations:The carrier was formed in March 1964 as the national airline of the country with the aid of Alitalia, which initially held a 50% controlling stake in the company, and the Somali government held the balance...
where he oversaw the growth of the Somali Airlines into an international Airlines. He help bring first commercial jet planes Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
to Somali Airlines
Somali Airlines
Somali Airlines was the flag carrier of Somalia.-History and destinations:The carrier was formed in March 1964 as the national airline of the country with the aid of Alitalia, which initially held a 50% controlling stake in the company, and the Somali government held the balance...
serving as Captain pilot and flight instructor after studying at American Air Academy in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. In 1987, he become licenced flight instructor in Airbus A310
Airbus A310
The Airbus A310 is a medium- to long-range twin-engine widebody jet airliner. Launched in July 1978, it was the second aircraft created by Airbus Industrie,a consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. the consortium of...
after studying at Airbus training center in Toulouse, France. In Total, he had 33 years and more than 27000 hours of flying experience. He served as an Instructor Airline Pilots and national Technical member. He gained thousands of hours of flight experience to destinations across Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Academic life
In addition to his different Diplomas and MMAS degree in Master of Military Arts and Science from KIEV- UKRAINE, the Soviet Union Air Force Academies. Mustafa holds Laureate of Jurisprudence from the Somali National University Faculty of Law and a Diploma of Linguistics from Italian Linguistics Academy a “ Polyglot” for which he was specialized in Arabic, English, French, German, Italian and Russian.Personal life
Mustafa Mohamed Moalim is married to Khadija Abdulkhadir Mohamed, a former ItalianItalian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
and Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
instructor and expert in Pedagogy
Pedagogy
Pedagogy is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction....
, with whom he has six sons and two daughters (Kamaludin, Zahra, Nuradin, Shamsudin, Rahma, Mohamed, Sakhawadin and Fakhrudin). He also has 28 grandchildren.
Mustafa has always refused in participating in any form of the current Somali civil war by maintaining a neutral ground and staying away clan politics. He loved his country and people and spent his last moments in exile in Moorhead, Minnesota with his wife, children, grandchildren and other extended family members. Mustafa died on December 27, 2009 and was buried in Fargo Islamic Cemetery in Fargo, North Dakota.