RAF Aboukir explained

RAF Aboukir RAF Aboukir Bay
Ensign:	Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Ensign Size:	90px
Nativename-A:	arz|ابو قير
Location:	Abu Qir, Alexandria Governorate
Country:	Egypt
Type:	Royal Air Force station
Coordinates:	31.3014°N 30.0611°W
Pushpin Map:	Egypt
Pushpin Map Caption:	Shown within Egypt
Pushpin Label:	RAF Aboukir
Pushpin Label Position:	top
Ownership:	Air Ministry
Operator:	Royal Air Force
Controlledby:	RAF Middle East
Code:	LG-34
Used:	1916-
Past Commanders:	Group Captain Tulloch
Elevation:	-5m (-16feet)
R1-Number:	00/00
R1-Surface:	Concrete

Royal Air Force Aboukir or more simply RAF Aboukir is a former Royal Air Force station located northwest of Kafr El-Dawar and 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.

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

The 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.
  • 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.
  • No. 64 Squadron RAF from 1 August 1936 with the Hawker Demon until 16 August 1936 when the squadron moved to the United Kingdom.
  • No. 80 Squadron RAF between 10 June 1919 and 1 February 1920 when the squadron disbanded, the squadron flew the Snipe.
  • No. 94 Squadron RAF between August and October 1944 as a detachment with the Supermarine Spitfire VB.
  • No. 112 Squadron RAF from 22 April 1941 and 31 May 1941 as a detachment with Hawker Hurricane I.
  • No. 123 (East India) Squadron RAF between 19 June 1942 and 19 July 1942 with the Spitfire VB.
  • No. 142 Squadron RAF from 13 October 1935 and 26 October 1935 with the Hawker Hart.
  • No. 145 Squadron RAF was formed here on 15 May 1918 before moving to Abu Sueir on 1 June 1918.
  • No. 208 Squadron RAF as a detachment between 18 April 1936 and 28 September 1938 with the Hawker Demon.
  • No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF as a detachment between 25 February 1944 and 19 April 1944 with the Spitfire VC & IX.
  • No. 252 Squadron RAF between 6 February 1945 and 10 February 1945 with the Bristol Beaufighter X.
  • No. 294 Squadron RAF as a detachment between 29 March 1944 and 6 June 1945 with Vickers Wellington IC.
  • No. 451 Squadron RAAF between 12 May 1941 and 1 July 1941 with the Hurricane I.
  • No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron AAF between 21 December 1942 and 25 January 1943 with no aircraft.
  • No. 651 Squadron RAF between 9 and 10 November 1945 with the Taylorcraft Auster V .
• Aboukir Bay
  • No. 204 Squadron RAF between 27 September and 22 October 1935 with the Supermarine Southampton II and Supermarine Scapa
  • No. 228 Squadron RAF between 19 July and 13 September 1940 with the Short Sunderland I
  • No. 230 Squadron RAF between May 1940 and 3 July 1942 with the Sunderland I/II/III

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.^[1]
• RAF Depot, Middle East between 7 October and 12 November 1939.^[1]
• No. 103 Maintenance Unit RAF between 12 November 1939 and 30 October 1946.^[1]

Current use

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

See also

• List of former Royal Air Force stations
• List of North African airfields during World War II

References

Bibliography

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

External links

• Photo of Aboukir base
• Royal Navy Research Archive - Aboukir

Notes and References

1. Web site: Stations - A. Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. 12 May 2013.