Initially,
Cranborne Air Base had served as the main base for the
Royal Rhodesian Air Force (RRAF), however the post-war urban growth of
Harare hindered its capabilities of expansion. In early 1952, Kentucky Airfield was established, located about 9 kilometers southeast from the old air base and Harare. Two runways were built. By February 1952, the RRAF had begun relocating numerous aircraft to the air base, and a sixth hangar was under construction. In August 1952, a runway was completed. On 1 April 1952, the RRAF had moved into the airfield, and it officially began military operations. On 21 August 1952, the first graduation parade was held for the No. 1 Short Service Course. There were 11 graduates, and the parade commander was Captain A.O.G. Wilson, who later became the Commander of the Air Force. In October 1952, a high number of military facilities were completed at Kentucky Airfield, and it became the headquarters of the RRAF. Shortly thereafter, the airfield was renamed to
New Sarum Air Force Base. The name of the air base was suggested by Keith Taute, which referred to
Old Sarum in
Wiltshire,
England. It operated with two runways, with one side for civil operations and the other for military. In July 1956, the Salisbury Airport Terminal was opened. In March 1974, the first night free fall parachute jump was carried out by instructors of the Parachute Training School at New Sarum. From 2015 to 2016, Group Captain Mildred Dengura served as head of Manyame AFB, and was also the first female commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe. After retirement, she was promoted to the Air Commodore rank. In November 2025, the air base held numerous AFZ events involving the AFZ Charity Fund Initiative, which is a humanitarian aid program aimed at supporting underserved communities. == Units ==