Royal Air Force Aboukir or more simply RAF Aboukir is a former Royal Air Force station 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.
| RAF Aboukir RAF Aboukir Bay  | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Egyptian Arabic: ابو قير | |||||||
| Abu Qir, Alexandria Governorate in Egypt | |||||||
3514.jpg) A Short Sunderland flying over RAF Aboukir after taking off from RAF Aboukir Bay | |||||||
  RAF Aboukir Shown within Egypt | |||||||
| Coordinates | 31°18′05″N 030°03′40″E / 31.30139°N 30.06111°E | ||||||
| Type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||
| Code | LG-34 | ||||||
| Site information | |||||||
| Owner | Air Ministry | ||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||
| Controlled by | RAF Middle East | ||||||
| Site history | |||||||
| Built | 1916 | ||||||
| In use | 1916-1947 | ||||||
| Garrison information | |||||||
| Past commanders | Group Captain Tulloch | ||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||
| Elevation | −5 metres (−16 ft) AMSL | ||||||
| |||||||
Their were two RAF stations near Aboukir: RAF Aboukir was located inland and RAF Aboukir Bay located on the seafront and used by seaplanes.
History
editThe bases was used by the following squadrons:
- Aboukir
- 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 (East India) 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 (Rhodesia) 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 RAAF between 12 May 1941 and 1 July 1941 with the Hurricane I.[13]
- No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron AAF 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]
- Aboukir Bay
- No. 204 Squadron RAF between 27 September and 22 October 1935 with the Supermarine Southampton II and Supermarine Scapa[16]
- No. 228 Squadron RAF between 19 July and 13 September 1940 with the Short Sunderland I[17]
- No. 230 Squadron RAF between May 1940 and 3 July 1942 with the Sunderland I/II/III[17]
The bases was also used by a number of different units during its lifetime:
- Headquarters 20th (Reserve) Wing RFC between 25 July 1916 and 31 May 1917.[18]
- RAF Depot, Middle East between 7 October and 12 November 1939.[18]
- No. 103 Maintenance Unit RAF between 12 November 1939 and 30 October 1946.[18]
Current use
editThe site is un-recognizable and is used for farming.
See also
editReferences
editCitations
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 68.
- ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 74.
- ^ a b c "Stations - A". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
Bibliography
edit- 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.