RAF Aboukir

RAF Aboukir
RAF Aboukir
Egyptian Arabic: ابو قير; Abu Qir
Near Alexandria in Egypt
	A Short Sunderland flying over the RAF Aboukir after taking off from Aboukir Bay
	RAF Aboukir Shown within Egypt
Coordinates	31°11′22″N 030°02′24″E / 31.18944°N 30.04000°E
Type	Royal Air Force base
Code	LG-34
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Site history
Built	1916
In use	1916-1947
Garrison information
Past; commanders	Group Captain Tulloch
Airfield information
Elevation	−5 metres (−16 ft) AMSL
Runways
00/00	Concrete

Royal Air Force Aboukir or more simply RAF Aboukir is a former Royal Air Force base located 6.6 miles (10.6 km) northwest of Kafr El-Dawar and 7.2 miles (11.6 km) east of Alexandria, Egypt. Between 1916 and 1947 a number of units and squadrons were based there, including the central depot for RAF Middle East until 12 November 1939.

History

The base was used by the following squadrons:

No. 29 Squadron RAF between 6 August 1936 and 12 September 1936 with Fairey Gordon light bombers.^[1]
No. 56 Squadron RAF reformed here on 1 February 1920 with the Sopwith Snipe with a detachment at San Stephano until August 1923. However 56 Squadron was disbanded on 23 September 1922.^[2]
No. 64 Squadron RAF from 1 August 1936 with the Hawker Demon until 16 August 1936 when the squadron moved to the United Kingdom.^[3]
No. 80 Squadron RAF between 10 June 1919 and 1 February 1920 when the squadron disbanded, the squadron flew the Snipe.^[4]
No. 94 Squadron RAF between August and October 1944 as a detachment with the Supermarine Spitfire VB.^[5]
No. 112 Squadron RAF from 22 April 1941 and 31 May 1941 as a detachment with Hawker Hurricane I.^[6]
No. 123 Squadron RAF between 19 June 1942 and 19 July 1942 with the Spitfire VB.^[7]
No. 142 Squadron RAF from 13 October 1935 and 26 October 1935 with the Hawker Hart.^[8]
No. 145 Squadron RAF was formed here on 15 May 1918 before moving to Abu Sueir on 1 June 1918.^[8]
No. 208 Squadron RAF as a detachment between 18 April 1936 and 28 September 1938 with the Hawker Demon.^[9]
No. 237 Squadron RAF as a detachment between 25 February 1944 and 19 April 1944 with the Spitfire VC & IX.^[10]
No. 252 Squadron RAF between 6 February 1945 and 10 February 1945 with the Bristol Beaufighter X.^[11]
No. 294 Squadron RAF as a detachment between 29 March 1944 and 6 June 1945 with Vickers Wellington IC.^[12]
No. 451 Squadron RAF between 12 May 1941 and 1 July 1941 with the Hurricane I.^[13]
No. 603 Squadron RAF between 21 December 1942 and 25 January 1943 with no aircraft.^[14]
No. 651 Squadron RAF between 9 and 10 November 1945 with the Taylorcraft Auster V .^[15]

The base was also used by a number of different units during its lifetime:

Headquarters 20th (Reserve) Wing between 25 July 1916 and 31 May 1917.^[16]
RAF Depot, Middle East between 7 October and 12 November 1939.^[16]
No. 103 Maintenance Unit RAF between 12 November 1939 and 30 October 1946.^[16]

Current use

The site is un-recognizable and is used for farming.

References

Citations

^ Jefford 1988, p. 34.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 43.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 45.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 49.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 52.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 56.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 58.
^ ^a ^b Jefford 1988, p. 61.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 69.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 75.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 78.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 84.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 92.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 98.
^ Jefford 1988, p. 102.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Stations - A". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 12 May 2013.

Bibliography

Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.

External links

Photo of Aboukir base

[FOOTNOTEJefford198834-1] Jefford 1988, p. 34.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198843-2] Jefford 1988, p. 43.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198845-3] Jefford 1988, p. 45.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198849-4] Jefford 1988, p. 49.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198852-5] Jefford 1988, p. 52.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198856-6] Jefford 1988, p. 56.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198858-7] Jefford 1988, p. 58.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198861-8] Jefford 1988, p. 61.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198869-9] Jefford 1988, p. 69.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198875-10] Jefford 1988, p. 75.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198878-11] Jefford 1988, p. 78.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198884-12] Jefford 1988, p. 84.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198892-13] Jefford 1988, p. 92.

[FOOTNOTEJefford198898-14] Jefford 1988, p. 98.

[FOOTNOTEJefford1988102-15] Jefford 1988, p. 102.

[AoA-16] "Stations - A". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 12 May 2013.

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