Dawson Field, also known as Zerka Airfield and Al-Thawra Airport, was a military airfield located thirty-five miles northeast of Amman in Zarqa, Zarqa Governorate, Jordan. During World War II, it was used as an airstrip by the RAF until withdrawal by the 1950s. It remained abandoned until it was reactivated by Wadie Haddad for use by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and gained the nickname Revolutionary Field. In 1970, Dawson Field was involved with a mass aircraft hijacking, with three aircraft forced to divert and land at the airfield.
During World War II, the Royal Air Force (RAF) maintained a remote airstrip at Zarqa. It was named Dawson Field, and a signals school was based there for desert exercises due to the ideally flat terrain it presented.[1] The airfield was named after Air Chief MarshalSir Walter Dawson in recognition of his achievements whilst he was an Air Officer Commanding of RAF command AHQ Levant.[2] In 1943, a bombing range was present near the airfield.[3] A camp was also established at Dawson Field, which consisted of 7 tents and a flag pole with the RAF flag. Supermarine Spitfires of the No. 32 Squadron RAF commonly flew from the airfield, and also Junkers Ju 52s captured from the Luftwaffe. In 1958, the RAF withdrew from Dawson Field, and it remained abandoned.[4]
Post-war
In May 1958, the runways and taxiways were extended 1,200 feet to the east, with the total runway length measuring 4,600 feet. There were no aircraft based here, and it was used as a vehicle and artillery park by the nearby Zarqa Military Camp equipped with 270 field artillery, 14 tanks, 16 prime movers, and approximately 930 vehicles.[5] Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, no aviation activity was reported at Dawson Field, which was referred to as "Zerka Airfield".[6][7] In the 1970s, Palestinian militant Wadie Haddad organized the rehabilitation of the former airfield, making it serviceable for aircraft use. It was renamed to Al-Thawra Airport, and was used by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The name translated to "Revolution Field", and locals of Zarqa also referred to the airport as Ga Khanna.[8][9] The landing ground is described as a mud flat, which hardened and cracked every summer, leading to unideal landing conditions. At the time, Al-Thawra Airport was located in a remote desert region.[10]
Aircraft at Dawson Field being blown up by the PRLP after it was evacuated.
In 1970, Al-Thawra Airport was selected by Wadie Haddad and PFLP engineers for where a mass aircraft hijacking would be carried, with the motive of freeing Palestinian prisoners imprisoned in Europe and Israel. In September 1970, members of the PFLP hijacked four airlines bound for New York City and one for London. Three of the aircraft were forced to divert and land at Al-Thawra Airport, and one landed at Cairo. Due to the unsuitable landing conditions of the airfield for a Boeing 747-121, Pan Am Flight 93 was redirected to Cairo in Egypt. On 7 September 1970, the hijackers held a press conference for 60 members of the media who had made their way to the airport. After the hostages were evacuated, all three aircraft was blown up on 11–12 September 1970.[11][12]
By the 1990s, Dawson Field was occasionally used by military aircraft. It primarily supported dispersal, staging and aircraft recovery operations.[13]
Accidents and incidents
On 22 October 1947, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIII of the No. 32 Squadron RAF registered TP365 crashed at Dawson Field. The Spitfire was the last of three in a formation landing at Dawsons Field, and the pilot decided to abandon the landing due to the dust 'kicked up' by previous aircraft. During the second attempt at landing, the pilot forgot to lower the undercarriage, and accidentally belly landed the aircraft, severely damaging the underside of the airframe. After the incident, the amassed damage was assessed as Category E and the aircraft was not repaired and struck off charge.[14]
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