RAF Shaluffa

RAF Shaluffa
قاعدة شلوفة الجوية
Shaluffa, Suez Governorate in Egypt
Boeing Fortress I, 1941.
RAF Shaluffa Shown within Egypt
Coordinates	30°03′10″N32°32′30″E / 30.05278°N 32.54167°E / 30.05278; 32.54167
Site information
Owner	Air Ministry
Operator	Royal Air Force
Controlled by	Near East Air Force
Site history
Built	1941 (1941)
In use	1941 - 1955 (1955)
Battles/wars	Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Runways Direction Length and surface N/S 2,273 metres (7,457 ft) Asphalt NW/SE 1,371 metres (4,498 ft) Asphalt NE/SW 1,143 metres (3,750 ft) Asphalt E/W 1,143 metres (3,750 ft) Asphalt

Royal Air Force Shaluffa or more commonly RAF Shaluffa (LG-215) is a former Royal Air Force station located in Suez Governorate, Egypt.

Layout

The airfield had four asphalt runways and was operated by the Near East Air Force and after Second World War,^{[ citation needed ]} returned to the Egyptian Army during 1955. ^[1] 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, swimming pool, and a cinema.

For fueling purposes, Shaluffa 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 was stationed there. ^{[2] [3]}

Crashes

On 21 February 1943, a Martin Marauder took off at Shaluffa to attack ships. However the aircraft was gunned down and six fatalities were reported.

On 12 January 1949, a four engine aircraft during training dived and crashed near the airfield with nine fatalities reported. The cause of this crash was a faulty right elevator that detached. ^[4]

On 22 October 1951, a de Havilland Vampire did a crash-landing on the runway in which the pilot was unfortunately killed. ^[5]

Units

The following units based at RAF Shaluffa: ^[6]

• No. 6 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 14 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 32 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 37 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 38 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 39 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 40 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 46 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 70 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 76 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 82 (United Provinces) Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 90 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 104 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 162 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 213 (Ceylon) Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 220 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 221 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 252 Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 351 (Jugoslav) Squadron RAF ^[7]
• No. 454 Squadron RAAF ^[7]
• No. 458 Squadron RAAF ^[7]
• No. 620 Squadron RAF ^[7]

Aircraft

The following aircraft either operated or were commonly visited by at RAF Shaluffa

• Martin B-57 Canberra
• Martin B-26 Marauder
• Douglas C-54 Skymaster
• Lockheed C-130 Hercules
• Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
• Gloster Meteor
• de Havilland Vampire
• Avro Lincoln

Citations

1. "Return of the British military base Shalufa to the Egyptian army Prime Mininster Nasser handing over the flag". Getty Images. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
2. Stevens, D. "RAF Shallufa" . Retrieved 2024-09-04.
3. "Middle Eastern Airfield Report Volume 2 | Page 79" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
4. "Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.1 in Shallufa AFB: 9 killed | Shaluffa AFB". baaa-acro.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
5. Brummell, P. "RAF Shallufa As Remembered By Peter Brummell" . Retrieved 2024-09-04.
6. Taynton, Montague. "RAF Kasfareet". Canal Zoners. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
7. Jefford 1988, p. 173.

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, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN   1-85310-053-6.