RAF Aboukir

{{Short description|Former Royal Air Force station near Alexandria, Egypt}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{Use British English|date=November 2017}} {{Infobox military installation |name = RAF Aboukir<br/>RAF Aboukir Bay |ensign=Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg |ensign_size=90px |nativename-a = {{langx|arz|ابو قير}} |nativename-r = |partof = |location =Abu Qir, Alexandria Governorate |country = Egypt |image = Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. ME(RAF)3514.jpg |alt = |caption = A Short Sunderland flying over RAF Aboukir after taking off from RAF Aboukir Bay |type = Royal Air Force station |coordinates = {{coord|31|18|05|N|030|03|40|E|type:airport_region:EG|display=inline,title}} |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 |built = {{Start date|1916}} |used = 1916-{{End date|1947}} |builder = |materials = |height = |fate = |condition = |battles = |events = |past_commanders = Group Captain Tulloch |garrison = |occupants = |open_to_public = |website = |IATA = |ICAO = |FAA = |TC = |LID = |GPS = |WMO = |elevation = {{Convert|-5|m|0}} |r1-number = 00/00 |r1-length =  |r1-surface = Concrete }} '''Royal Air Force Aboukir''' or more simply '''RAF Aboukir''' is a former Royal Air Force station located {{Convert|6.6|mi}} northwest of Kafr El-Dawar and {{Convert|7.2|mi}} 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.

There 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.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=34}} ** 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.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=43}} ** No. 64 Squadron RAF from 1 August 1936 with the Hawker Demon until 16 August 1936 when the squadron moved to the United Kingdom.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=45}} ** No. 80 Squadron RAF between 10 June 1919 and 1 February 1920 when the squadron disbanded, the squadron flew the Snipe.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=49}} ** No. 94 Squadron RAF between August and October 1944 as a detachment with the Supermarine Spitfire VB.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=52}} ** No. 112 Squadron RAF from 22 April 1941 and 31 May 1941 as a detachment with Hawker Hurricane I.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=56}} ** No. 123 (East India) Squadron RAF between 19 June 1942 and 19 July 1942 with the Spitfire VB.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=58}} ** No. 142 Squadron RAF from 13 October 1935 and 26 October 1935 with the Hawker Hart.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=61}} ** No. 145 Squadron RAF was formed here on 15 May 1918 before moving to Abu Sueir on 1 June 1918.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=61}} ** No. 208 Squadron RAF as a detachment between 18 April 1936 and 28 September 1938 with the Hawker Demon.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=69}} ** No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF as a detachment between 25 February 1944 and 19 April 1944 with the Spitfire VC & IX.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=75}} ** No. 252 Squadron RAF between 6 February 1945 and 10 February 1945 with the Bristol Beaufighter X.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=78}} ** No. 294 Squadron RAF as a detachment between 29 March 1944 and 6 June 1945 with Vickers Wellington IC.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=84}} ** No. 451 Squadron RAAF between 12 May 1941 and 1 July 1941 with the Hurricane I.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=92}} ** No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron AAF between 21 December 1942 and 25 January 1943 with no aircraft.{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=98}} ** No. 651 Squadron RAF between 9 and 10 November 1945 with the Taylorcraft Auster V .{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=102}} * Aboukir Bay ** No. 204 Squadron RAF between 27 September and 22 October 1935 with the Supermarine Southampton II and Supermarine Scapa{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=68}} ** No. 228 Squadron RAF between 19 July and 13 September 1940 with the Short Sunderland I{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=74}} ** No. 230 Squadron RAF between May 1940 and 3 July 1942 with the Sunderland I/II/III{{sfn|Jefford|1988|p=74}} *** No. 2 Yugoslav (floatplane) Squadron between May 1941 and April 1942 with the Dornier Do 22 and Rogožarski SIM-XIV-H<ref>{{cite book |last=Fitzsimons |first=Bernard |date=1971 |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare, Volume 7 |url= |location= |publisher=Columbia House |page=763 |isbn= |access-date=}}</ref>

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.<ref name="AoA">{{cite web|title=Stations - A|url=http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-A.htm#Aboukir|work=Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation|accessdate=12 May 2013}}</ref> * RAF Depot, Middle East between 7 October and 12 November 1939.<ref name="AoA"/> * No. 103 Maintenance Unit RAF between 12 November 1939 and 30 October 1946.<ref name="AoA"/>

==Current use== The site is un-recognizable and is used for farming.

==References== ===Citations=== {{reflist}}

===Bibliography=== *{{cite book |last1=Jefford |first1= C G |title= RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=1988 |publisher= Airlife |location= Shrewsbury |isbn= 1-85310-053-6 }}

== External links == * [http://www.diandsaulbooks.co.uk/the-abuklarion---raf-aboukir-newsletter---7-issues-from-1944-1956-p.asp Photo of Aboukir base] * [https://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/FAA-Bases/Aboukir.htm Royal Navy Research Archive - Aboukir]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aboukir}} Category:Royal Air Force stations in Egypt Category:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in Egypt Category:World War II airfields in Egypt Category:Military airbases established in 1916 Category:Military airbases closed in 1947