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RAF Dhibban

RAF Habbaniya
RAF Habbaniya Unit Badge.jpg
Station crest
Active 1936–1959
Country Iraq
Allegiance United KingdomUK: British Armed Forces
Branch Royal Air Force
Type Flying station
Part of British Forces in Iraq
Located near Habbaniyah, Iraq
Royal Air Force Ensign Air Force Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg
March Royal Air Force March Past
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Hughie Edwards (1956–58)

Coordinates: 33°22′37.0″N 43°34′4.0″E / 33.376944°N 43.567778°E / 33.376944; 43.567778

Royal Air Force Station Habbaniya, more commonly known as RAF Habbaniya, (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 It was operational from October 1936 until the 31 May 1959 when the British were finally withdrawn following the July 1958 Revolution. 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 remained a major Iraqi military airbase.

RAF Habbaniya was constructed on the west bank of the Euphrates and opened on 19 October 1936. It was the British Royal Air Force base built "West of the Euphrates" in accordance with Article 5 of the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930. It was situated on the West bank of the Euphrates between Ramadi and Fallujah. The squadrons, units and headquarters and the hospital gradually moved in from RAF Hinaidi, Baghdad, which was then vacated by the British and renamed "Rashid Airfield" by the Iraqis. Originally called RAF Dhibban, the station was renamed RAF Habbaniya on 1 May 1938. RAF Habbaniya was extensive and, as well as the airfield, included the Air Headquarters of [RAF Iraq Command], communication facilities, maintenance units, an aircraft depot, an RAF hospital, RAF [Iraq Levies] barracks, the [RAF Armoured Car Company] depot as well as fuel and bomb stores.


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