RAF Khormaksar

RAF Khormaksar is a former Royal Air Force station in Aden, during the 1960s it was the busiest station in the RAF with nine squadrons based. It later became Aden International Airport.

Station motto: "Into the Remote Places".

History

Originally used in 1917 by the RAF it was enlarged in 1945 as the British were spreading their influence deeper into the Arabian Peninsula. In 1958 a state of emergency was declared in Aden as Yemeni forces occupied nearby Jebel Jehaf and RAF squadrons were involved in action in support of the British Army. In the 1960s during operations around Rhadfan the station was the busiest ever RAF station. It was overcrowded and the station also attracted terrorist ground attacks. In 1966 the newly elected Labour government in the United Kingdom announced that all forces would be withdrawn by 1968. The station closed on the 29 November 1967.

Units and aircraft

No. 8 Squadron RAF were based on eight different times:
*1927-1945 operating the Fairey IIIF, Vickers Vincent, Hawker Demon, Bristol Blenheim, Martin Maryland, Fairey Swordfish, Lockheed Hudson and Vickers Wellington
*1946-1950 operating the de Havilland Mosquito, Hawker Tempest and Bristol Brigand
*1950-1951 operating the Bristol Brigand, Avro Anson and Auster AOP6
*1951-1952 as before
*1952-1953 operating the Bristol Brigand and de Havilland Vampire
*1953-1956 operating the de Havilland Vampire and de Havilland Venom
*1956-1961 operating the de Havilland Venom, Gloster Meteor and Hawker Hunter
*1961-1967 operating the Hawker Hunter FR10

No. 84 Squadron RAF were based between 1956 and 1967 and operated the Vickers Valetta, Bristol Sycamore, Percival Pembroke, Blackburn Beverley and Hawker Siddeley Andover.

References

* [http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-K.htm#Khormaksar Crest Badge and Information of RAF Khormaksar]
*G G Jefford, "RAF Squadrons", second edition 2001, Airlife Publishing, UK, ISBN 1-84037-141-2.