Saïd Aït Messaoudène

Saïd Aït Messaoudène was an Algerian politician and aviator, considered one of the founding fathers of Algerian aviation. He served as the first commander of the Algerian Air Force.

Early life Messaoudene was born on July 25, 1933 in Had-Sahary, Djelfa Province, Algeria. He grew up in a conservative family, originally from Tizi Ouzou. He attended a Quranic school in his town, where he memorized the Quran, and then moved to Blida with his uncle. Messaoudene attended a technical institute where he was given the opportunity to participate with trainees for an aviation academy located in Allied-occupied Germany. In 1951, when he training was completed, he was transferred to the Aviation School in Salon-de-Provence, where he graduated top of his class with the rank of second lieutenant. News of Messaoudene's strong background as a NATO fighter pilot and Algerian loyalty reached then-Minister of War Krim Belkacem, who personally admitted Messaoudene into the FLN because he knew his family.

After Algerian independence, Messaoudene was appointed the first commander-in-chief of the newly-established Algerian Air Force. During the Sand War in 1963, Moroccan aircraft struck Algerian troops moving from Béchar to Tindouf and then Tindouf to the border. The airbase in Bechar and one near Tindouf were controlled by France, who ordered Algeria not to use them. Messaoudene responded by ordering his planes further south. Under Messaoudene, Air Algerie completed nationalization. Messaoudene held several ministerial positions in the 1970s and 1980s. From 1972 to 1977, he served as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, from 1977 to 1978 as Minister of Health, from 1979 to 1984 as Minister of Light Industry, and as vice-president of the Algerian Parliament from 1987 and 1992. Air Algerie renamed their headquarters in Bab Ezzouar after Messaoudene in 2024.