RAF Khormaksar

Royal Air Force Khormaksar, or RAF Khormaksar, is a former Royal Air Force station in Aden, Yemen. Its motto was "Into the Remote Places".^[1] During the 1960s, it was the base for nine squadrons and became the RAF's busiest-ever station as well as the biggest staging post for the RAF between the United Kingdom and Singapore.^{[citation needed]}

It later became Aden International Airport.

History

Established in 1917, RAF Khormaksar was enlarged in 1945. No. 8 Squadron RAF arrived in 1927, and stayed until 1945, operating the Fairey IIIF, Vickers Vincent, Hawker Demon, Martin Maryland, Fairey Swordfish, and the Lockheed Hudson.^[2]

On 10 June 1940, Italy declared war on Britain and France, and Aden quickly became an important British base for the East African Campaign. Khormaksar launched its first combat sorties three days later, when 8 Squadron sent nine Bristol Blenheims to bomb an airfield at Assab in Italian Eritrea, across the Red Sea from Aden on 12 June. Five Vincents attacking the same airfield that night.^[3] On 5 August 1940, Italy invaded British Somaliland, and 8 Squadron's Blenheims flew missions against advancing Italian troop columns. The Italians heavily outnumbered the British and Commonwealth defences, and the port of Berbera, immediately south of Aden across the Gulf of Aden, was occupied by the Italians on 19 August.^[4][5]

After December 1941, the station became a stopover and refueling point for the USAAF Air Transport Command.^[6] 8 Squadron continued to be based at Khormaksar equipped with Blenheims. The squadron flew Vickers Wellington XIIIs were flown from December 1943 until May 1945.^[2]

In 1943 a Communication Squadron, HQ British Forces Aden Communication Squadron, was established here. It changed names twice in 1951 and 1955 before being disbanded in 1956.^[7]

In 1958, a state of emergency was declared in Aden as Yemeni forces occupied nearby Jebel Jehaf and RAF squadrons were involved in action in support of the British Army. In the 1960s, during operations around Rhadfan, the station reached a peak of activity, becoming overcrowded and attracting ground attacks by rebels. In 1966, the newly elected Labour government in the United Kingdom announced that all forces would be withdrawn by 1968.^[8]

In May 1967, it was expected that planned final force levels at Khormaksar ahead of the January 1968 withdrawal would be:^[9]

*The Army element, comprising Tactical Headquarters Aden Brigade, one commando, one battalion, one armoured car troop, one light artillery troop, one engineer troop and elements of the small Joint Headquarters. Total of some 1,150 personnel.

*The RAF element, comprising a squadron of Hunters and a Wessex flight (both with servicing support parties), a visiting aircraft servicing party, the Communications Centre, elements of an ATOC, movements, airfield services and elements of the Joint Headquarters. Total of some 350 personnel.

Khormaksar played a role in the evacuation of British families from Aden in the summer of 1967. The station closed on 29 November 1967.^{[citation needed]}

Units and aircraft

Inter war years and Second World War

Cold War

Units

See also

• British Forces Aden
  • Air Forces Middle East

References

Citations

1. ^ Pine, L.G. (1983). A dictionary of mottoes. 1 ed. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. p. 115. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
2. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 26.
3. ^ Shores 1996, p. 18–19.
4. ^ "The Ethiopian Campaign - 1940-1941". 8 Squadron Royal Air Force, 4 September 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
5. ^ Shores 1996, pp. 45–54.
6. ^ R. Frank Futrell, “The Development of Base Facilities,” in The Army Air Forces in World War II, vol. 6, Men and Planes, Wesley Frank Craven and James Lea Cate, eds. (Washington, D.C., Office of Air Force History, new imprint, 1983), 157, 160; John D. Carter, “The Air Transport Command,” The Army Air Forces in World War II, vol. 7, Services Around the World, ed. Wesley Frank Craven and James Lea Cate, 42, 44–45 (Washington, D.C., Office of Air Force History, new imprint, 1983).
7. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 32.
8. ^ Brian Lapping, 'End of Empire,' Guild Publishing, London, 1985.
9. ^ Air Forces Middle East. "(extracts from) Operational Order AFME/S216/Air, dated 23 May, 1967". radfanhunters.co.uk. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
10. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 28.
11. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 38.
12. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 52.
13. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 57.
14. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 68.
15. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 71.
16. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 77.
17. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 79.
18. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 81.
19. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 93.
20. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 101.
21. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 31.
22. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 33.
23. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 37.
24. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 39.
25. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 47.
26. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 48.
27. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 50.
28. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 54.
29. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 69.
30. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 75.
31. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 105.
32. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 120.
33. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 181.
34. ^ Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 232.

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: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
• Sturtivant, R. & Hamlin, J. (2007). Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 978-0851-3036-59.

External links

• Crest Badge and Information of RAF Khormaksar
• Personal histories and photos from RAF Khormaksar in the 1960s
• Photos from RAF Khormaksar in the mid 1960s
• Aircraft stationed and visiting RAF Khormaksar