RAF Shandur explained

RAF Shandur
Ensign:Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
Ensign Size:90px
Native Name:قاعدة شندور الجوية
Location:Shandur, Suez Governorate
Country:Egypt
Pushpin Map:Egypt
Pushpin Map Caption:Shown within Egypt
Pushpin Label:RAF Shandur
Ownership:Air Ministry
Operator:Royal Air Force
Controlledby:Air Command, South East Asia
Built:1941
Used:1941 - 1947
Fate:Closed
Condition:Demolished into farmland
Garrison:16th Parachute Brigade, 4th Royal Tank Regiment
R1-Number:N/S
R1-Length:1420m (4,660feet)

Royal Air Force Shandur or more simply RAF Shandur (LG-214) is a former Royal Air Force station located in Shandur, Suez Governorate, Egypt.

History

From 1941 to 1942, RAF Shandur provided training for RAF crews who operated Marylands. In May 1943, the No. 70 Operating Training Unit was under the control of No. 203 Squadron RAF, and moved to the airfield for training operations until January 1945 when it was disbanded. According to German maps, RAF Shandur may have been mistaken as RAF Shaluffa.[1]

Post-war Usage

In late 1947, RAF Shandur was an ex-RAF station, and served as the base for the 4th Royal Tank Regiment equipped with Cromwell, Comet, and Sherman tanks. It was also equipped with American Jeeps and Chevrolet 3-ton vehicles (‘B’ vehicles). In 1951, near the airfield was Camp Shandur, where the 16th Parachute Brigade of the 3rd Battalion was stationed. Shortly afterwards, operations were moved to Moascar Garrison.[2] RAF Shandur experienced extreme weather conditions, such as snow falling in March 1950, and heavy rainfall that led to flooding in the Nissen huts. The 4th RTR remained at the base until 1950, and was the only complete tank regiments trained there, remaining in the area until 1954. Due to the increasing Suez Crisis, the remaining units were withdrawn from the base.[3]

Units

The following units based in RAF Shandur at one point.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: No. 70 Operational Training Unit, RAF . BirtwistleWiki . November 14, 2024.
  2. Web site: 4th RTR Shandur 1947-52 As Remembered By Douglas R . CanalZoners . November 14, 2024.
  3. Web site: 3 PARA AT SHANDUR CAMP NEAR FAYID, CANAL ZONE 1951. . 14 November 2024 . www.paradata.org.
  4. Web site: 223 Squadron, RAF, World War II . Epibreren . November 14, 2024.
  5. Web site: 417 Squadron, RCAF, World War II . History of War . November 14, 2024.
  6. Web site: Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943 . Picryl . November 14, 2024.