RAF Kasfareet
RAF Kasfareet which is formerly known as RAF Geneifa is a former Royal Air Force station located in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt.
History
In 1940, the airfield was constructed, and the 107 Maintenance Unit and 21 Personnel Transit Center was based here during the Second World War. 107 MU operated a maintenance, three hangars, and a repair and flight test center in the airfield. RAF Kasfareet would commonly experience sandstorms. There was also a Royal Canadian Air Force presence here. In June 1943, the No. 1 Aircrew Reception Centre was formed at RAF Kasfareet, which managed and redistributed newly arrived or recruited RAF aircrew from the station.Around 1955, the RAF transferred the airfield alongside RAF Shallufa to the Egyptian Air Force. Runways 04/22, 14/32, and 09/27 was closed shortly afterwards.
The former RAF maintenance, repair, and flight test center was not utilized by the Egyptian Air Force after the transfer.
Located north of the airfield is the Kasfareet Air Force Training Center, which serves as a base for training pilots and personnel in all fields of military aviation. The center provides courses that cover aeronautical sciences, flight tactics, and aircraft maintenance. The facility has high attendance of trainees and participants from various military units, and has a generally positive reputation.
Layout
RAF Kasfareet stored 28,800 gallons of AV GAS and 28,800 gallons of jet fuel. Accommodated with the airfield was a control tower, an administrative building, a 36-bed infirmary, and an armory. RAF personnel stationed at the airfield slept in tents, and in billets. The perimeter of the camp was guarded by fences and searchlights. Kasfareet was operated by four bituminous runways, which only one was used after the transfer of ownership.Units
The following units that were once formed, or based at Kasfareet:Support units
- 1 Aircrew Reception Centre, June 1943 - September 1943
- 5001 RAF Airfield Construction Squadron
- 5355 RAF Airfield Construction Wing
- 107 RAF Maintenance Unit
- 21 Personnel Unit Transit Centre
Operational units
- Detachment from No. 14 Squadron RAF between March and June 1943 with the Martin Marauder I and the North American Mustang I
- No. 47 Squadron RAF between 22 December 1941 and 25 January 1942 with the Vickers Wellesley
- No. 127 Squadron RAF reformed here and was active between 26 August and 29 September 1941.
- No. 237 Squadron RAF between 24 August and 21 September 1941 with the Gloster Gladiator II and the Hawker Hurricane I
- No. 417 Squadron RAF between 4 June and 18 July 1942
- Ground echelon from No. 603 Squadron AAF between 4 and 28 June 1942
- Detachment from No. 1908 Flight, No. 651 Squadron RAF between November 1951 and November 1955
Other aircraft