RAF Shallufa

RAF Shallufa
قاعدة شلوفة الجوية
Shallufa, Suez Governorate in Egypt
Boeing Fortress I, 1941.
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	Near East Air Force
Location
RAF Shallufa Shown within Egypt
Coordinates	30°03′10″N 32°32′30″E / 30.05278°N 32.54167°E / 30.05278; 32.54167
Site history
Built	1941 (1941)
In use	1941 - 1955 (1955)
Battles/wars	Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Runways Direction Length and surface N/S 2,273 metres (7,457 ft) Asphalt NW/SE 1,371 metres (4,498 ft) Asphalt NE/SW 1,143 metres (3,750 ft) Asphalt E/W 1,143 metres (3,750 ft) Asphalt

Royal Air Force Shallufa or more commonly RAF Shallufa (LG-215) is a former Royal Air Force station located in Suez Governorate, Egypt.

History

From 1942 - 1944, RAF Shallufa hosted the No. 5 Middle East Torpedo (Training) School,^[1] and trained several Chinese aircrew.^[2] The airfield had four asphalt runways and was operated by the Near East Air Force. The airfield later served as a British military base until 1955, when a ceremonial flag handover by Prime Minister Nasser was held.^[3] RAF Shallufa had a satellite airfield at 30°06′5″N 32°31′0″E, and was designated as LG-252. The No. 221 Squadron RAF was based there from 11 August 1942, until 22 August 1942, when it relocated to RAF Shallufa.^[4]

Layout

The runways were lighted with electric cables. The airfield had an air traffic control tower, a 14-bed infirmary, shops and an administrative building. On site was two installed steel hangars, a swimming pool, and a cinema.

For fueling purposes, Shallufa had a capacity of 86,000 gallons of Aviation Gas and 28,920 gallons of jet fuel. While not related to the airfield, nearby was a speedway commonly used by the people who were stationed there.^[5][6]

Labeled diagram of RAF Shallufa.

Units

The following units based at RAF Shallufa:^[7]

Second World War

• Detachment from No. 14 Squadron RAF between February and June 1943 with the Martin Marauder I^[8]
• No. 37 Squadron RAF initially between 17 December 1940 and 27 April 1942 with the Vickers Wellington IC^[9]
• No. 38 Squadron RAF between 18 December 1940 and 28 February 1943 with the Wellington IC, II & VIII^[9]
• No. 39 Squadron RAF between 2 October 1942 and June 1943 with the Bristol Beaufort II^[10]
• No. 40 Squadron RAF between 23 June and 20 August 1942 with the Wellington IC^[10]
• No. 46 Squadron RAF between 13 and 21 December 1944 with the de Havilland Mosquito XII^[11]
• Detachment from No. 76 Squadron RAF between October 1941 and September 1942 with the Handley Page Halifax II^[12]
• Detachment from No. 90 Squadron RAF between August and October 1941 with the Boeing Fortress I^[13]
• No. 162 Squadron RAF between 6 January and 12 April 1942 with the Wellington IC^[14]
• Detachment No. 220 Squadron RAF between 1 December 1941 and 2 May 1942 with the Fortress I^[15]
• No. 221 Squadron RAF between 11 August 1942 and 1 February 1943 with the Wellington VIII^[15]
• Detachment from No. 252 Squadron RAF between December 1943 and January 1944 with the Bristol Beaufighter XI^[16]
• Detachment No. 351 (Jugoslav) Squadron RAF between July and September 1944 with the Hawker Hurricane IIC^[17]
• No. 458 Squadron RAAF between 1 September 1942 and 30 March 1943 with the Wellington IC & VIII^[18]

Post War

• No. 6 Squadron RAF between 5 September and 26 November 1947 with the Hawker Tempest F.6 ^[19]
• No. 32 Squadron RAF between 4 January 1951 and 27 January 1952 with the de Havilland Vampire FB.5^[20]
• No. 37 Squadron RAF between 12 December 1945 and 31 March 1946 with the Consolidated Liberator VI then between 16 September 1946 and 1 April 1947 with the Avro Lancaster B.7, then as detachment between September 1947 and March 1948 with the Lancaster MR.3^[9]
• No. 70 Squadron RAF initially between 12 December 1945 and 31 March 1946 with the Liberator VI then between 17 September 1946 and 1 April 1947 with the Lancaster B.1(FE)^[21]
• Detachment from No. 82 (United Provinces) Squadron RAF between October 1947 and November 1948 with the Lancaster PR.1^[22]
• No. 104 Squadron RAF between 1 July 1946 and 1 April 1947 with the Lancaster B.7(FE)^[23]
• No. 213 (Ceylon) Squadron RAF between 3 September and 22 October 1947 with the Tempest F.6^[24]
• Detachment from No. 620 Squadron RAF between March and June 1946 with the Halifax A.7^[25]

Accidents & incidents

• On 21 February 1943, a Martin Marauder took off at Shallufa to attack ships. However the aircraft was gunned down and six fatalities were reported.

• On 12 January 1949, a four engine aircraft during training dived and crashed near the airfield with nine fatalities reported. The cause of this crash was a faulty right elevator that detached.^[26]

• On 22 October 1951, a de Havilland Vampire did a crash-landing on the runway in which the pilot was unfortunately killed.^[27]

See also

• List of North African airfields during World War II

References

Citations

1. Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 191.
2. "The RAF and China: A Forgotten Alliance (Part 3)". RAF Museum Blog. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
3. "Return of the British military base Shallufa to the Egyptian army Prime Minister Nasser handing over the flag". Getty Images. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
4. Jefford 2001, p. 75.
5. Stevens, D. "RAF Shallufa". Retrieved 2024-09-04.
6. "Middle Eastern Airfield Report Volume 2 | Page 79" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
7. Taynton, Montague. "RAF Kasfareet". Canal Zoners. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
8. Jefford 1988, p. 28.
9. Jefford 1988, p. 37.
10. Jefford 1988, p. 38.
11. Jefford 1988, p. 40.
12. Jefford 1988, p. 48.
13. Jefford 1988, p. 52.
14. Jefford 1988, p. 64.
15. Jefford 1988, p. 72.
16. Jefford 1988, p. 78.
17. Jefford 1988, p. 88.
18. Jefford 1988, p. 93.
19. Jefford 1988, p. 26.
20. Jefford 1988, p. 36.
21. Jefford 1988, p. 46.
22. Jefford 1988, p. 50.
23. Jefford 1988, p. 54.
24. Jefford 1988, p. 71.
25. Jefford 1988, p. 101.
26. "Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.1 in Shallufa AFB: 9 killed | Shallufa AFB". baaa-acro.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
27. Brummell, P. "RAF Shallufa As Remembered By Peter Brummell". Retrieved 2024-09-04.

Bibliography

• Jefford, C. G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
• Jefford, C. G. (2001). RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
• Sturtivant, Ray; Hamlin, John (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. Tonbridge, UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.