Latvian Air Force () is the aviation branch of the National Armed Forces. The first air force (AF) units were established 1992. It has no air combat capability, thus the defense of Latvian air space is maintained by NATO, with rotating detachments of four aircraft to Lithuania at four-monthly intervals (see Baltic Air Policing). History 1919–1940 The Latvian Air Force was first founded during the Latvian War of Independence. On 7 June 1919 an Air Group was formed, commanded by Lt. Alfrēds Valleika. The first aircraft were former Bolshevik Nieuport 24bis and Sopwith 1½ Strutter, both seized from German forces. They first flew on 5 August 1919, and accomplished the first bombing mission on 26 August 1919. From September the air force had three aircraft, and took part in fighting against the Germans and White Russians. Another 7–8 aircraft were seized and repaired after defeating of Russo-German forces, and 7 Sopwith Camels and 3 Sopwith 1½ Strutters were received from the British in December 1919. The Latvian air force flew 69 missions during the war of independence. In the years to follow many more aircraft were added to the inventory and the Air Group was eventually renamed the Aviation Regiment in 1926. An interesting feat of the Latvian naval aviation was a 6000-km trip to England and back, by three Fairey Seal floatplanes, in 1936. In 1939, the Aviation Regiment consisted of three fighter squadrons, armed with 24 Gloster Gladiator and 6 Bristol Bulldog (a fourth squadron was in organization), three reconnaissance squadrons, armed with up to 12 Letov Š-16LS, 2 Hawker Hind and 10 Stampe SV.5, and a naval reconnaissance squadron with 4 Fairey Seal and two other planes. In 1939, Latvia ordered and paid for 30 British Hawker Hurricane fighters, but due to the country being overrun, they were never delivered. By 1940, there were almost 130 aircraft in service. A separate, mostly light aircraft Aviation Regiment of the Aizsargi organization also existed parallel to the air force until the Soviet occupation. In addition to biplanes, it also purchased planes locally-produced by the VEF factory, e.g. at least four I-12 trainers in 1938. In 1940, the Aviation Regiment and the Latvian armed forces were dissolved after the Soviet occupation of Latvia. Since 1992 The post-Soviet Latvian Air Force was formed on 24 February 1992 at Spilve Airport. In August 1994 the air force moved to the ex-Soviet Lielvārde