Lod Air Force Base


Lod Air Force Base, also Air Force Base 27, was an Israeli Air Force airfield that was part of the Ben Gurion International Airport, located approximately north of Lod; east-southeast of Tel Aviv.
From 1938 to 1948 it was known as RAF Station Lydda while under British Royal Air Force control.

History

The Lydda Airport, built in 1934, was used by the Allies during the Second World War becoming RAF Lydda on 1 March 1943. After the Israeli declaration of independence, it became an IAF airfield and the only international airport in the new state of Israel. The airfield military base officially closed down on 2 August 2008, after its last units moved to Nevatim. On the same airfield the Ben Gurion International Airport is still operating as the main airport of Israel.

RAF Operational units

Between July and November, 1942, the US Army, Middle East Air Force - USAMEAF operated B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator aircraft from RAF Lydda. These aircraft were reassigned to Egypt in November.

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