Air Headquarters Levant (AHQ Levant) was a command of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) established on 1 December 1941, by renaming the command known as H.Q. RAF Palestine and Transjordan. It controlled RAF units in the Mandate of Palestine and in the Emirate of Transjordan. Prior to being disbanded on 27 July 1948, Air H.Q. Levant was a sub-command of RAF Middle East Command and its successors. RAF Web Mediterranean Commands RAF Middle East Command became a sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command in February 1943.
An AHQ Levant was reformed on 1 May 1955 when AHQ Iraq was renamed AHQ Levant as an interim measure following a new agreement with the Iraq Government for the defence of Iraq and use by the RAF of bases in Iraq. On 1 December 1955 AHQ Levant started to transfer from RAF Habbaniya to Cyprus (probably RAF Nicosia) and on 15 January 1956, when the move was complete, AHQ Cyprus and AHQ Levant were amalgamated as AHQ Levant.David Lee, Flight from the Middle East, pg. 105 AHQ Levant was disbanded, 1 Apr 1958.
Orders of battle (1941-1945) Richards, D. and H. Saunders, The Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (Volumes 2-3, HMSO, 1953)
H.Q RAF Palestine and Transjordan 11 November 1941 Air Commodore Leslie Brown No. 259 Wing No. 263 Wing
Air H.Q. Levant 27 October 1942 Group Capt Herbert Mermagen No. 1438 Flight, Bristol Blenheims No. 1413 Flight (Met.), Gloster Gladiators No. 2 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit RAF (Detachment), Hawker Hurricanes No. 213 Group No. 241 Wing No. 451 Squadron RAAF, Hurricane
Air H.Q. Levant 10 July 1943 A/Cdre Bernard McEntegart No. 208 Squadron, Hurricane No. 1413 Flight (Meteorological), Gladiator
Air H.Q. Levant June, 1944 Air Commodore John Coleman
Air H.Q. Levant January, 1945 Air Commodore Hector McGregor (RNZAF)
Reformation of Air H.Q. Levant 1 May 1955
1 May 1955 - April 1956, on renaming of A.H.Q. Iraq, A.V.M. Hugh Hamilton Brookes
Met.= Meteorological Det.=Detachment;RAAF=Royal Australian Air Force.
References Citations
Bibliography David Lee, Flight from the Middle East: A history of the Royal Air Force in the Arabian Peninsula and adjacent territories 1945-1972, HMSO 1980