Abu Suweir Air Base

Abu Suweir Air Base is an Egyptian Air Force (Arabic: القوات الجوية المصرية‎, El Qūwāt El Gawwīyä El Maṣrīyä) base, located approximately 17.1 kilometres (10.6 mi) west of Ismaïlia and 116 kilometres (72 mi) northeast of Cairo. It is positioned for strategic defence of the Suez Canal waterway.

Abu Suweir Air Base
Near Ismaïlia in Egypt
Abu Suweir Air Base
Shown within Egypt
Coordinates30°34′20″N 032°05′45″E
Site information
OwnerEgyptian Armed Forces
OperatorEgyptian Air Force
Site history
Built1942 (1942)
In use1942-present
Airfield information
Elevation14 metres (46 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
09/27 2,972 metres (9,751 ft) Asphalt
11/29 2,960 metres (9,711 ft) Asphalt

History

During the Second World War the airfield, then known as RAF Abu Sueir or Abu Sueir Airfield (LG-205) was used as a military airfield by the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom and the American United States Army Air Forces during the North African Campaign against Axis forces.

USAAF Ninth Air Force units which used the airfield were:[1]

512th Bombardment Squadron, 9 November 1942-10 February 1943
513th Bombardment Squadron, 8 November 1942-10 February 1943
514th Bombardment Squadron, 8 November 1942-10 February 1943
515th Bombardment Squadron, 8 November 1942-6 February 1943

In the mid 1950s, the base was the last station to be handed over by the RAF to the Egyptians. This was despite the fact that Abu Sueir and Fanara were the two bases to be retained, to be maintained by civilian contractors. Abu Sueir was handed over to Egypt on 14 April 1956.[2]

Current use

Today, the airfield is an active Egyptian Air Force Base. Its Second World War configuration is still evident in aerial photography. It houses the 60th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 262nd Tactical Fighter Wing, flying General Dynamics F-16C/D Block 40s Fighting Falcons.[3]

See also

References
  1.  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
  2. Lee, Wings in the Sun, 49-50
  3. Scramble.nl


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