Shaluffa AFB, or RAF Shaluffa (LG-215) is a disused military air base located in the Suez Governorate, Egypt. This airfield was commonly favorited by the units stationed there.
RAF Shaluffa قاعدة شلوفة الجوية | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Boeing Mark 1 Fortress on Shaluffa Airfield, 1941. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Defunct | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Royal Air Force (Near East Air Force) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Suez Canal Area | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Shaluffa, Egypt | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 13 m / 43 ft | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 30°03′N 32°32′E / 30.050°N 32.533°E | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||||||||||||||
  RAF Shaluffa Location in Egypt | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Layout
editShaluffa AFB had four asphalt runways and was operated by the Near East Air Force and after World War Two, returned to the Egyptian Air Force. 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 commonly enjoyed swimming pool, and a cinema. For fueling purposes, Shaluffa AFB 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. [1] [2]
Crashes
editOn February 21, 1943, a Martin B-26 Marauder took off at Shaluffa Air Base to attack ships. However the aircraft was gunned down and six fatalities were reported.
On January 12, 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.[3]
On October 22nd 1951, a de Havilland Vampire did a crash-landing on the runway in which the pilot was unfortunately killed. [4]
RAF Units
editThe following units based at RAF Shaluffa
- No. 458 RAAF Squadron
- No. 37 RAAF Squadron
- No. 6 Squadron RAAF
- No. 213 RAF Squadron
- No. 2419 RAAF Squadron
- No. 32 RAF Squadron
Aircraft
editThe 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
References
edit- ^ Stevens, D. "RAF Shallufa". Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ "Middle Eastern Airfield Report Volume 2 | Page 79" (PDF). apps.dtic.mil. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Brummell, P. "RAF Shallufa As Remembered By Peter Brummell". Retrieved 2024-09-04.