RAF Shallufa

Royal Air Force Shallufa or more commonly RAF Shallufa is a former Royal Air Force station located in Suez Governorate, Egypt.

History

In 1918, Shallufa Aerodrome was established. It was placed under the Disposal and Liquidation Commission on 4 July, 1922. It was also named Armament Training Station.
At the outbreak of World War II in Egypt, Shallufa Aerodrome was opened as a RAF station on 22 January, 1940, gaining the title RAF Shallufa. It was closed and reopened numerously, which included closure on 30 January, 1942, and reopening on 20 May, 1943. The station was place under administration by the No. 203 Group RAF beginning in 20 May of that year. On 1 December, 1944, the station was closed, and was reopened on 15 February, 1945. On 15 September, 1945, station was placed under administration by the No. 205 Group RAF.
From 1942 - 1944, RAF Shallufa hosted the No. 5 Middle East Torpedo School, and trained several Chinese aircrew. The airfield had four asphalt runways and was operated by the Near East Air Force. RAF Shallufa had a satellite airfield at, and was designated as LG-252 and named Shallufa North. The No. 221 Squadron RAF was based there from 11 August 1942, until 22 August 1942, when it relocated to RAF Shallufa.

Post-war

In July 1947, Operation Sunray was introduced into the training programme of the Bomber Command, with RAF Shallufa serving as the primary host base. At the beginning of each month, six aircraft from one station alternating between 1 and 3 groups, would depart for a monthlong attachment to the base. By conducting long-range and bombing range training, the operation provided bomber squadrons with practice in mobility, live bombing, air firing, and exercises with fighter squadrons. In January 1948 and again in June-July 1948, the No. 35 Squadron RAF had a detachment at RAF Shallufa for Operation Sunray, using the Avro Lancaster B.I.
On 1 November, 1950, RAF Shallufa began operating as a medium bomber base and operational training base for the Bomber Command. It provided training to the command, and Mosquito marker elements were assigned for target marking. Additionally, bombing range factories were built at Shallufa North. On 31 October, 1954, RAF Shallufa was closed and its station headquarters was disbanded. In 1955, a ceremonial flag handover of the base by Prime Minister Nasser was held.

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 refueling 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.

Units

The following units based at RAF Shallufa:
; Royal Air Force

No. 20 Training Depot Station between 2 August and November 1918 then May 1919 and 24 June 1919
No. 17 Training Depot Station between May 1919 and 25 July 1919
No. 37 Squadron RAF initially between 17 December 1940 and 27 April 1942 with the Vickers Wellington IC
No. 38 Squadron RAF between 18 December 1940 and 28 February 1943 with the Wellington IC, II & VIII
Detachment from No. 90 Squadron RAF between August and October 1941 with the Boeing Fortress I
Detachment from No. 76 Squadron RAF between October 1941 and September 1942 with the Handley Page Halifax II
Detachment No. 220 Squadron RAF between 1 December 1941 and 2 May 1942 with the Fortress I
No. 162 Squadron RAF between 6 January and 12 April 1942 with the Wellington IC
No. 40 Squadron RAF between 23 June and 20 August 1942 with the Wellington IC
No. 39 Squadron RAF between 2 October 1942 and June 1943 with the Bristol Beaufort II
No. 458 Squadron RAAF between 1 September 1942 and 30 March 1943 with the Wellington IC & VIII
No. 221 Squadron RAF between 11 August 1942 and 1 February 1943 with the Wellington VIII
Detachment from No. 14 Squadron RAF between February and June 1943 with the Martin Marauder I
Detachment from No. 252 Squadron RAF between December 1943 and January 1944 with the Bristol Beaufighter XI
Detachment No. 351 Squadron RAF between July and September 1944 with the Hawker Hurricane IIC
No. 46 Squadron RAF between 13 and 21 December 1944 with the de Havilland Mosquito XII

; Non-flying and support units

No. 63 Repair & Salvage Unit - 10 Nov 1942
No. 5 Training School, July 1942 — March 1944
Carrier Pigeon Service Unit, January 1943 — April 1943
No. 1 Mobile Service Unit, January 1943 — April 1943
No. 3 Mobile Service Unit, January 1943 — April 1943
No. 39 Squadron, Ground Party, January 1943 — February 1943
HQ, No. 245 Wing
No. 14 RAF Mobile Servicing Unit, 16 April 1943 - 1 December 1944
Middle East Armament School, 1 May 1943 - 9 October 1945
No. 39 Royal Navy Personnel Transit Centre, 3 May 1944 - August 1945
No. 75 Operational Training Unit, 9 February 1945 - 25 June 1945
No. 1342 Rocket Projectile Training Flight, February 1945 - 15 April 1945
No. 1343 Conversion Flight, March 1945 - 12 September 1945
Post-war units

The following units that were based at RAF Shallufa after World War II:
; Royal Air Force

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
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
Detachment from No. 620 Squadron RAF between March and June 1946 with the Halifax A.7
No. 104 Squadron RAF between 1 July 1946 and 1 April 1947 with the Lancaster B.7
No. 37 Squadron RAF 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
No. 6 Squadron RAF between 5 September and 26 November 1947 with the Hawker Tempest F.6
No. 213 Squadron RAF between 3 September and 22 October 1947 with the Tempest F.6
Detachment from No. 82 Squadron RAF between October 1947 and November 1948 with the Lancaster PR.1
No. 32 Squadron RAF between 4 January 1951 and 27 January 1952 with the de Havilland Vampire FB.5