Royal Air Force Khormaksar, or RAF Khormaksar, is a former Royal Air Force station in Aden, Yemen. Its motto was "Into the Remote Places". During the 1960s, it was the base for nine squadrons and became the RAF's busiest-ever station as well as the biggest staging post for the RAF between the United Kingdom and Singapore.

It later became Aden International Airport.

History Established in 1917, RAF Khormaksar was enlarged in 1945. No. 8 Squadron RAF arrived in 1927, and stayed until 1945, operating the Fairey IIIF, Vickers Vincent, Hawker Demon, Martin Maryland, Fairey Swordfish, and the Lockheed Hudson.

On 10 June 1940, Italy declared war on Britain and France, and Aden quickly became an important British base for the East African Campaign. Khormaksar launched its first combat sorties three days later, when 8 Squadron sent nine Bristol Blenheims to bomb an airfield at Assab in Italian Eritrea, across the Red Sea from Aden on 12 June. Five Vincents attacking the same airfield that night.Shores 1996, p. 18–19. On 5 August 1940, Italy invaded British Somaliland, and 8 Squadron's Blenheims flew missions against advancing Italian troop columns. The Italians heavily outnumbered the British and Commonwealth defences, and the port of Berbera, immediately south of Aden across the Gulf of Aden, was occupied by the Italians on 19 August."The Ethiopian Campaign - 1940-1941". 8 Squadron Royal Air Force, 4 September 2006. Retrieved 19 September 2012.Shores 1996, pp. 45–54.

After December 1941, the station became a stopover and refueling point for the USAAF Air Transport Command.R. Frank Futrell, “The Development of Base Facilities,” in The Army Air Forces in World War II, vol. 6, Men and Planes, Wesley Frank Craven and James Lea Cate, eds. (Washington, D.C., Office of Air Force History, new imprint, 1983), 157, 160; John D. Carter, “The Air Transport Command,” The Army Air Forces in World War II, vol. 7, Services Around the World, ed. Wesley Frank Craven and James Lea Cate, 42, 44–45 (Washington, D.C., Office of Air Force History, new imprint, 1983). 8 Squadron continued to be based at Khormaksar equipped with Blenheims. The squadron flew Vickers Wellington XIIIs were flown from December 1943 until May 1945.

In September 1944, No.1566 Meteorological Flight was relocated to Khormaksar from Hiswa. The unit consisted of 4 Hurricane Mark IIBs and 10 support crew. Spitfires were later used. The flight operated until 1946. National Archives, Kew. No. 1566 MET FLIGHT

In 1943 a Communication Squadron, HQ British Forces Aden Communication Squadron, was established here. It changed names twice in 1951 and 1955 before being disbanded in 1956.

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 reached a peak of activity, becoming overcrowded and attracting ground attacks by rebels. In 1966, the newly elected Labour government in the United Kingdom announced that all forces would be withdrawn by 1968.Brian Lapping, 'End of Empire,' Guild Publishing, London, 1985.

In May 1967, it was expected that planned final force levels at Khormaksar ahead of the January 1968 withdrawal would be: *The Army element, comprising Tactical Headquarters Aden Brigade, one commando, one battalion, one armoured car troop, one light artillery troop, one engineer troop and elements of the small Joint Headquarters. Total of some 1,150 personnel.

*The RAF element, comprising a squadron of Hunters and a Wessex flight (both with servicing support parties), a visiting aircraft servicing party, the Communications Centre, elements of an ATOC, movements, airfield services and elements of the Joint Headquarters. Total of some 350 personnel.

Khormaksar played a role in the evacuation of British families from Aden in the summer of 1967. The station closed on 29 November 1967.

Units and aircraft

Inter war years and Second World War UnitDatesAircraftVariantNotes No. 8 Squadron RAF 27 February 1927 - 1 May 1945 Fairey IIIVickers VincentHawker DemonBristol BlenheimMartin MarylandFairey SwordfishLockheed HudsonVickers Wellington F.IIIIVIXIII Disbanded No. 12 Squadron RAF 20 October 1935 - 25 November 193523 March 1936 - 18 May 193628 July 1936 - 11 August 1936 Hawker Hart I Moved to RAF RobatMoved to RAF RobatMoved to RAF Andover No. 41 Squadron RAF 20 October 1935 - 18 March 1936 Hawker Demon I Moved to RAF Sheikh Othman No. 94 Squadron RAF 26 March 1939 - 2 May 1939 Gloster Gladiator I & II Moved to RAF Sheikh Othman No. 114 Squadron RAF 23 September 1945 - 1 May 1946 Douglas Bostonde Havilland Mosquito VVI Reduced to a Cadre No. 203 Squadron RAF 18 May 1940 - 16 April 1941 Bristol Blenheim IV Moved to RAF Kabrit No. 216 Squadron RAF 27 November 1942 - 15 July 1945 Lockheed HudsonDouglas Dakota VII Detached from RAF Cairo West No. 244 Squadron RAF 17 March 1944 - 1 May 1945 Vickers Wellington XIII Detached from RAF Masirah No. 259 Squadron RAF 14 September 1943 - 1 May 1945 Consolidated Catalina IB Detached from RAF Dar es Salaam No. 265 Squadron RAF 1 April 1943 - 1 May 1945 Consolidated Catalina IB Detached from RAF Diego Suarez No. 459 Squadron RAAF 1 July 1942 - 5 April 1944 Lockheed Hudson III Detached from LG227 and LG143 No. 621 Squadron RAF 5 December 1943 - 12 November 1945 Vickers Wellington XIII & XIV Moved to RAF Mersah Matruh

Cold War

UnitDatesAircraftVariantNotes No. 8 Squadron RAF 1 September 1946 - 14 August 1950 de Havilland MosquitoHawker TempestBristol BrigandAvro AnsonAuster FB.6F.6B.1C.19AOP.6 Moved to RAF Nicosia No. 8 Squadron RAF 25 September 1950 - 31 May 1951 Bristol BrigandAvro AnsonAuster B.1C.19AOP.6 Moved to RAF Shaibah No. 8 Squadron RAF 8 September 1951 - 23 February 1952 Bristol BrigandAvro AnsonAuster B.1C.19AOP.6 Moved to RAF Nicosia No. 8 Squadron RAF 9 April 1952 - 7 July 1953 Bristol Brigandde Havilland Vampire B.1FB.9 Moved to RAF Nicosia No. 8 Squadron RAF 23 November 1953 - 24 July 1956 de Havilland Vampirede Havilland Venom FB.9FB.1 & FB.4 Moved to RAF Habbaniyah No. 8 Squadron RAF 20 December 1956 - 30 June 1961 de Havilland VenomGloster MeteorHawker Hunter FB.1 & FB.4FR.9FGA.9 & FR.10 Moved to RAF Bahrain No. 8 Squadron RAF 14 October 1961 - 8 August 1967 Hawker Hunter FGA.9 & FR.10 Moved to RAF Masirah No. 21 Squadron RAF 1 June 1965 – 9 September 1967 Scottish Aviation Twin PioneerDouglas DakotaHawker Siddeley Andover CC.1ICC.2 Disbanded No. 26 Squadron RAF 1 March 1963 – 30 November 1965 Bristol Belvedere HC.1 Disbanded No. 37 Squadron RAF 21 August 1957 – 7 September 1967 Avro Shackleton MR.2 Disbanded No. 43 Squadron RAF 1 March 1963 – 7 November 1967 Hawker Hunter FGA.9 Disbanded No. 73 Squadron RAF 30 July - 21 December 1956 de Havilland Venom FB.1 Moved to RAF Nicosia No. 78 Squadron RAF 15 April 1956 – 13 October 1967 Scottish Aviation PioneerScottish Aviation Twin PioneerPercival PembrokeWestland Wessex CC.1CC.1C.1HC.2 Moved to RAF Sharjah No. 84 Squadron RAF 31 December 1956 – 3 September 1967 Vickers ValettaBristol SycamorePercival PembrokeBlackburn BeverleyHawker Siddeley Andover C.1HR.14C.1C.1C.1 Moved to RAF Sharjah No. 105 Squadron RAF 15 June 1962 – 6 August 1967 Armstrong Whitworth Argosy C.1 Moved to RAF Muharraq No. 208 Squadron RAF 26 March - August 1956 (Det)15 November - 30 November 196130 November - 9 December 1961 (Det)9 December 1961 - 8 June 1964 Gloster MeteorHawker HunterHunterHunter FR.9FGA.9FGA.9FGA.9 Sqn at RAF AkrotiriMoved to RAF EastleighSqn at RAF EastleighDet at RAF Muharraq No. 233 Squadron RAF 1 September 1960 – 31 January 1964 Vickers Valetta C.1 Disbanded No. 683 Squadron RAF 18 December 1951 - 10 June 1952 Avro LancasterVickers Valetta PR.1C.1 Moved to RAF Habbaniyah

Units

UnitDatesAircraftVariantNotes No. 1417 Flight RAF 1958 – 19601 March 1963 – 8 September 1967 Gloster MeteorHawker Hunter FR.9FR.10 / T.7 Reabsorbed into No. 8 Squadron RAF Aden Communication Squadron RAF1 December 1951 – 1 September 1955 Various Various Became Aden Protectorate Communication and Support Squadron RAF Aden Protectorate Communication and Support Squadron RAF 1 September 1955 – 31 December 1956 Various Various Redesignated No. 84 Squadron RAF Headquarters British Forces Aden Communications Flight RAF 21 March 1943 – 1 January 1944January 1946 - 1 December 1951 Various Various Became Aden Communication Squadron Aden Communication Unit RAF 1 January 1944 - January 1946 Various Various Reverted back to the HQ British Forces Aden Communications Flight RAF No. 131 Maintenance Unit 9 March 1942 - 1 November 19451 November 1958 - 31 August 1967 Blackburn BeverleyArmstrong Whitworth ArgosyScottish Aviation aircraftBristol Belvedere Various Aircraft Repair & General Engineering Sections Search and Rescue Flight RAF, Khormaksar 13 June 1958 - 1 July 1967 Bristol SycamoreWestland Whirlwind HR.14HAR.2/HAR.4 Disbanded

See also British Forces Aden Air Forces Middle East

References Citations

Bibliography

External links Crest Badge and Information of RAF Khormaksar Personal histories and photos from RAF Khormaksar in the 1960s Photos from RAF Khormaksar in the mid 1960s Aircraft stationed and visiting RAF Khormaksar