RAF Shaluffa explained

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

History

From 1942 - 1944, RAF Shaluffa hosted the No. 5 Middle East Torpedo School, and trained several Chinese aircrew. ^[1] The airfield had four asphalt runways and was operated by the Near East Air Force. The airfield later served as a British military base until 1955, when a ceremonial flag handover by Prime Minister Nasser was held. ^[2]

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 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.^{[3] [4]}

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.^[5]

On 22 October 1951, a de Havilland Vampire did a crash-landing on the runway in which the pilot was unfortunately killed.^[6]

Units

The following units based at RAF Shaluffa:^[7]

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

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

See also

• List of North African airfields during World War II

References

Bibliography

• Book: Jefford . C. G. . RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 . 1988 . Airlife Publishing . Shrewsbury, UK . 1-85310-053-6 .

Notes and References

1. Web site: The RAF and China: A Forgotten Alliance (Part 3) . RAF Museum Blog . 28 June 2021 . 24 October 2024.
2. Web site: Return of the British military base Shalufa to the Egyptian army Prime Mininster Nasser handing over the flag. Getty Images. 6 October 2024.
3. Web site: Stevens . D . RAF Shallufa . 2024-09-04.
4. Web site: Middle Eastern Airfield Report Volume 2 Page 79 . 2024-08-28 . apps.dtic.mil.
5. Web site: Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.1 in Shallufa AFB: 9 killed Shaluffa AFB . 2024-08-28 . baaa-acro.com.
6. Web site: Brummell . P . RAF Shallufa As Remembered By Peter Brummell . 2024-09-04.
7. Web site: Taynton . Montague . RAF Kasfareet . Canal Zoners . 26 September 2024.