RAF Habbaniya

RAF Habbaniya
قاعدة الحبانية الجوية (Arabic: Of the oleander)[1]
Habbaniya in Iraq
A black and white image of some hangars, tentage and hard standings in a desert
Habbaniya airfield, circa 1941
The heraldic badge of RAF Habbaniya
Station badge (Infestos ferimus
Latin: We strike the troublesome[2])
RAF Habbaniya is located in Iraq
RAF Habbaniya
RAF Habbaniya
Coordinates33°22′56.99″N 43°34′23.71″E / 33.3824972°N 43.5732528°E / 33.3824972; 43.5732528
TypeFlying station
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Iraq Command
Site history
Built1934 (1934)
In use1936–1959 (1959)
Garrison information
Past
commanders
Airfield information
Runways
Direction Length and surface
2,000 yards (1,829 m) 

Royal Air Force Habbaniya, more commonly known as RAF Habbaniya (Arabic: قاعدة الحبانية الجوية), (originally RAF Dhibban), was a Royal Air Force station at Habbaniyah, about 55 miles (89 km) west of Baghdad in modern-day Iraq, on the banks of the Euphrates near Lake Habbaniyah. It was developed from 1934, and was operational from October 1936 until 31 May 1959 when the RAF finally withdrew after the July 1958 Revolution made the British military presence no longer welcome. It was the scene of fierce fighting in May 1941 when it was besieged by the Iraqi Military following the 1941 Iraqi coup d'état.

It is currently a major Iraqi military airbase.

  1. ^ Fairbairn 1991, p. 82.
  2. ^ Pine, L. G. (1983). A Dictionary of mottoes. London: Routledge & K. Paul. p. 113. ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
  3. ^ Wilson, Charles, ed. (14 April 1988). "Air Vice-Marshal H. H. Brookes". The Times. No. 63055. p. 16. ISSN 0140-0460.
  4. ^ "Edwards, Hughie Idwal VC, DSO, OBE, DFC (Air Commodore, b.1914 - d.1982)". www.awm.gov.au. Retrieved 19 February 2022.