Sidi Haneish Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield complex in Egypt, in the western desert, about 376 km (235 miles) west-northwest of Cairo.

The airfield, known as Haggag el Qasaba by the German Luftwaffe, was the location of one of the most daring raids during World War II by the British Special Air Service (SAS). On the night of 26 July 1942, SAS Detachment "L", also known as "Stirling's Raiders", attacked the airfield, then under Luftwaffe control. Driving a convoy of eighteen jeeps, each carrying 3 or 4 British or French commandos, the raiders destroyed or damaged around forty Luftwaffe aircraft. The attack damaged the Luftwaffe's capability during the German invasion of Egypt and also, by the destruction of many transport aircraft, severely diminished its ability to re-supply German land forces in the field.

The airfield was later used by the United States Army Air Forces Ninth Air Force during the Eastern Desert Campaign by the British Eighth Army, which the 57th Fighter Group, flew Curtiss P-40 Warhawks from 8–12 November 1942.

It was apparently abandoned after the western desert campaign moved into Libya and eventually was taken over by the desert. Aerial photos show some evidence of where it existed.

British airfields The LG-12 (Landing Ground) North site is given as – Units: No. 33 Squadron RAF No. 213 (Ceylon) Squadron RAF No. 229 Squadron RAF No. 238 Squadron RAF No. 250 Squadron RAF No. 450 Squadron RAAF

The LG-13 South is given as – Units: No. 73 Squadron RAF No. 80 Squadron RAF No. 92 (East India) Squadron RAF No. 145 Squadron RAF No. 238 Squadron RAF No. 250 (Sudan) Squadron RAF No. 274 Squadron RAF No. 335 (Greek) Squadron RAF No. 601 (County of London) Squadron AAF

The LG-101 is given as – Units: No. 33 Squadron RAF No. 74 Squadron RAF No. 203 Squadron RAF No. 213 (Ceylon) Squadron RAF No. 238 Squadron RAF No. 250 (Sudan) Squadron RAF No. 260 Squadron RAF No. 450 Squadron RAAF

The LG-102 is given as – Units: No. 6 Squadron RAF No. 30 Squadron RAF No. 80 Squadron RAF No. 112 Squadron RAF No. 229 Squadron RAF No. 250 (Sudan) Squadron RAF No. 450 Squadron RAAF

See also

List of North African airfields during World War II Second Battle of El Alamein

References

Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. .

Further reading

Lists several airfields in the area.

External links Possible site of the airfield on Wikimapia