# RAF Hinaidi

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Former Royal Air Force station near Baghdad

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RAF Hinaidi Baghdad in Iraq RAF Hinaidi in 1924 Site information Owner Air Ministry Operator Royal Air Force Royal Iraqi Air Force Location RAF Hinaidi Shown within Iraq Coordinates 33°17′14.59″N 44°28′31.85″E / 33.2873861°N 44.4755139°E / 33.2873861; 44.4755139 Site history Built 1922 (1922) In use 1922 - 1937 (1937)

**Royal Air Force Hinaidi** or more commonly known as **RAF Hinaidi** (or Hinaidi Cantonment), is a former [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force) station near [Baghdad](/source/Baghdad) in the [Kingdom of Iraq](/source/Kingdom_of_Iraq). It was operational from 1922 until 1937, when operations were transferred to [RAF Habbaniya](/source/RAF_Habbaniya).

## History

Hinaidi Cantonment was developed after the First World War as an Army barracks and as the main British airfield, taking over from Baghdad West airfield. The Cantonment passed from British Army Command to the Royal Air Force in 1922 when the Royal Air Force took over garrison duties in Iraq as a result of the [Cairo Conference](/source/Cairo_Conference).[1] There were extensive barracks, recreational facilities, a large hospital, Air Headquarters (AHQ), communication facilities, maintenance units, aeroplane squadron hangars, [RAF Armoured Car Company](/source/RAF_Armoured_Car_Company) lines, RAF [Iraq Levies](/source/Iraq_Levies) lines and a civil cantonment. 299 British personnel still lie buried in the RAF Cemetery at Hinaidi (the Peace Cemetery, derelict as at 2019 but subsequently being restored). The register of those buried is held by the RAF Habbaniya Association.

In [Clause 1](/source/Anglo-Iraqi_Treaty_(1930)#Clause_1.) of the "Annexure to Treaty of Alliance" section of the [Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930](/source/Anglo-Iraqi_Treaty_(1930)), maintaining a force at Hinaidi was indicated to be permitted for a period of "five years after the entry into force of this Treaty." This time was provided "in order to enable [His Majesty the King of 'Iraq](/source/List_of_Kings_of_Iraq) to organise the necessary forces to replace them."

RAF Dhibban (renamed [RAF Habbaniya](/source/RAF_Habbaniya) in 1938) was built to replace Hinaidi and the RAF began to move there in 1936. The final evacuation of British Forces from Hinaidi took place on 21 December 1937 and the handover of the entire cantonment to the Iraqi Government was completed on 17 January 1938. The [Royal Iraqi Air Force](/source/Iraqi_Air_Force) had a presence on the airfield from at least 1933 and upon complete handover it became a major [Royal Iraqi Air Force](/source/Iraqi_Air_Force) base.[2]

During the [1941 Iraqi coup d'état](/source/1941_Iraqi_coup_d'%C3%A9tat), the airfield was renamed "[Rashid Airfield](/source/Rasheed_Air_Base)" by the Iraqis in honour of [Rashid Ali](/source/Rashid_Ali), former Iraqi [Prime Minister](/source/Prime_Minister) and the leader of the coup.[3] During the [Anglo-Iraqi War](/source/Anglo-Iraqi_War) in May 1941, the airfield was bombed and strafed by the British [Royal Air Force](/source/Royal_Air_Force), damaging and destroying Iraqi aircraft.[4]

## Flying Units and Aircraft

RAF Hinaidi

- [No. 1 Squadron RAF](/source/No._1_Squadron_RAF) (1921–26) [Sopwith Snipe](/source/Sopwith_Snipe) [Nighthawk](/source/Nieuport)[5]

- [No. 6 Squadron RAF](/source/No._6_Squadron_RAF) (1922-24 & 1926-29) [Bristol F2b Fighter](/source/Bristol_F2b_Fighter)[6]

- [No. 8 Squadron RAF](/source/No._8_Squadron_RAF) (1921-27) [de Havilland](/source/De_Havilland) [Airco DH.9A](/source/Airco_DH.9A)[7]

- [No. 30 Squadron RAF](/source/No._30_Squadron_RAF) (1922-29) [de Havilland](/source/De_Havilland) [Airco DH.9A](/source/Airco_DH.9A) [Westland Wapiti](/source/Westland_Wapiti)[8]

- [No. 45 Squadron RAF](/source/No._45_Squadron_RAF) (1922-27) [Vickers Vernon](/source/Vickers_Vernon)[9]

- [No. 55 Squadron RAF](/source/No._55_Squadron_RAF) (1924–37) [de Havilland](/source/De_Havilland) [Airco DH.9A](/source/Airco_DH.9A) [Westland Wapiti](/source/Westland_Wapiti) [Vickers Vincent](/source/Vickers_Vincent)[10]

- [No. 70 Squadron RAF](/source/No._70_Squadron_RAF) (1922-37) [Vickers Vernon](/source/Vickers_Vernon) [Vickers Victoria](/source/Vickers_Victoria) [Vickers Valentia](/source/Vickers_Valentia)[11]

The squadrons were also detached to other airfields during their time at Hinaidi.

**Units**

- Aircraft Depot, Iraq (1929-37)[12]

- Aircraft Park, Iraq (1918-22)[13]

- Iraq Aircraft Depot (1922-29)[14] became Air Depot Iraq (1929-37)[15]

- Hinaidi Station Flight[16]

- Air Headquarters Iraq (1938)[14]

- Iraq Command (1928-38)[14]

- Communication Flight Iraq and Persia (1930-38)[14]

## Units

- [RAF Armoured Car Companies](/source/RAF_Armoured_Car_Company), various Companies, Sections and Wing Headquarters (1922-1936).[17]

## See also

- [List of former Royal Air Force stations](/source/List_of_former_Royal_Air_Force_stations)

- [Handley Page Hinaidi](/source/Handley_Page_Hinaidi)

## References

### Citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** AIR8/37, 1921, The National Archives, Kew, UK

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** The National Archives UK AIR 28/330, FO 624/10/137 (& appendices) et al.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Lyman, p. 27

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Dudgeon, p. 89

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJefford198823_5-0)** [Jefford 1988](#CITEREFJefford1988), p. 23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJefford198825_6-0)** [Jefford 1988](#CITEREFJefford1988), p. 25.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJefford198826_7-0)** [Jefford 1988](#CITEREFJefford1988), p. 26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJefford198835_8-0)** [Jefford 1988](#CITEREFJefford1988), p. 35.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJefford198839_9-0)** [Jefford 1988](#CITEREFJefford1988), p. 39.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJefford198842_10-0)** [Jefford 1988](#CITEREFJefford1988), p. 42.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJefford198846_11-0)** [Jefford 1988](#CITEREFJefford1988), p. 46.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESturtivantHamlin200741_12-0)** [Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007](#CITEREFSturtivantHamlin2007), p. 41.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESturtivantHamlin200742_13-0)** [Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007](#CITEREFSturtivantHamlin2007), p. 42.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESturtivantHamlin2007169_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESturtivantHamlin2007169_14-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESturtivantHamlin2007169_14-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESturtivantHamlin2007169_14-3) [Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007](#CITEREFSturtivantHamlin2007), p. 169.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESturtivantHamlin200745_15-0)** [Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007](#CITEREFSturtivantHamlin2007), p. 45.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTESturtivantHamlin2007262_16-0)** [Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007](#CITEREFSturtivantHamlin2007), p. 262.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** *Warwick, Nigel W. M. (2014). *IN EVERY PLACE: The RAF Armoured Cars in the Middle East 1921-1953*. Rushden, Northamptonshire, England: Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd. p. 4. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-9574725-2-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9574725-2-5).

### Bibliography

- Lyman, Robert (2006). *Iraq 1941: The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Fallujah and Baghdad*. Campaign. Oxford, New York: Osprey Publishing. p. 96. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-84176-991-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84176-991-6).

- Warwick, Nigel W. M. (2014). *IN EVERY PLACE: The RAF Armoured Cars in the Middle East 1921-1953*. Rushden, Northamptonshire, England: Forces & Corporate Publishing Ltd. p. 4. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-9574725-2-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-9574725-2-5).

- Air Vice Marshall A. G. Dudgeon CBE, DFC: *Hidden Victory - The Battle of Habbaniya, May 1941* (Tempus Publishing, UK, 2000, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0 7524 2001 1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0_7524_2001_1)).

- Jefford, C. G. (1988). *RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912*. [Shrewsbury](/source/Shrewsbury), UK: Airlife Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85310-053-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85310-053-6).

- Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). *Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912*. [Tonbridge](/source/Tonbridge), UK: Air-Britain (Historians). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0851-3036-59](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0851-3036-59).

v t e Royal Air Force Formations and units Units Commands Groups Wings Squadrons Flights Conversion units Operational Training units Schools / Training units Ferry units Glider units Misc units Stations Active Former Satellite Landing Grounds Station description Regiment Wings Squadrons Flights Branches and components Air Force Board RAF Regiment RAF Chaplains Branch RAF Intelligence RAF Legal Branch RAF Medical Services Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service RAF Police RAF ground trades RAF Music Services RAF Search and Rescue Force RAF Mountain Rescue Service RAF Marine Branch RAF Air Cadets Operations Reserve forces Royal Auxiliary Air Force RAF Volunteer Reserve Equipment List of RAF aircraft current future List of RAF missiles List of equipment of the RAF Regiment Personnel Officer ranks Other ranks List of notable personnel List of serving senior officers Personnel numbers Appointments Chief of Air Staff Assistant Chief of the Air Staff Air Member for Personnel Air Secretary Air Member for Materiel Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment Warrant Officer of the RAF Symbols and uniform Badge Ensign Heraldic badges Roundels Squadron standards and battle honours Uniform Associated civil organisations Air Training Corps Combined Cadet Force (RAF section) RAF Association RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine RAF Benevolent Fund RAF Football Association RAF Museum History Timeline Future

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [RAF Hinaidi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Hinaidi) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Hinaidi?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.