Abu Suweir Air Base
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Abu Suweir Air Base | |||||||||
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| Near Ismaïlia in Egypt | |||||||||
  Abu Suweir Air Base Shown within Egypt | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 30°34′20″N 032°05′45″E / 30.57222°N 32.09583°E | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Egyptian Armed Forces | ||||||||
| Operator | Egyptian Air Force | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1942 | ||||||||
| In use | 1942-present | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Elevation | 14 metres (46 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
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Abu Suweir Air Base is an Egyptian Air Force (Template:Lang-ar, El Qūwāt El Gawwīyä El Maṣrīyä) base, located approximately 17.1 kilometres (10.6 mi) west of Ismaïlia and 116 kilometres (72 mi) northeast of Cairo. It is positioned for strategic defence of the Suez Canal waterway.
History
During the Second World War the airfield, then known as RAF Abu Sueir or Abu Sueir Airfield (LG-205) was used as a military airfield by the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom and the American United States Army Air Forces during the North African Campaign against Axis forces.
USAAF Ninth Air Force units which used the airfield were:[1]
- 376th Bombardment Group, 8 November 1942-January 1943, Consolidated B-24 Liberator
- 512th Bombardment Squadron, 9 November 1942-10 February 1943
- 513th Bombardment Squadron, 8 November 1942-10 February 1943
- 514th Bombardment Squadron, 8 November 1942-10 February 1943
- 515th Bombardment Squadron, 8 November 1942-6 February 1943
In the mid 1950s, the base was the last station to be handed over by the RAF to the Egyptians. This was despite the fact that Abu Sueir and Fanara were the two bases to be retained, to be maintained by civilian contractors. Abu Sueir was handed over to Egypt on 14 April 1956.[2]
Current use
Today, the airfield is an active Egyptian Air Force Base. Its Second World War configuration is still evident in aerial photography. It houses the 60th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 262nd Tactical Fighter Wing, flying General Dynamics F-16C/D Block 40s Fighting Falcons.[3]
See also
References
- ^
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
- ^ Lee, Wings in the Sun, 49-50
- ^ Scramble.nl
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