RAF Hinaidi


Royal Air Force Hinaidi or more RAF Hinaidi is a former Royal Air Force station near Baghdad in the Kingdom of Iraq. It was operational from 1922 until 1938, when operations were transferred to RAF Habbaniya.

History

The station was established as the main British airfield in Iraq after the First World War, initially under British Army command until the Royal Air Force took over in 1922. There were extensive barracks, recreational facilities, a large hospital, Air Headquarters, communication facilities, maintenance units, aeroplane squadron hangars, RAF Armoured Car Company lines and a civil cantonment. Many British personnel still lie buried in the RAF Cemetery at Hinaidi. The register of those buried is held by the .
In Clause 1 of the "Annexure to Treaty of Alliance" section of the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930, maintaining a force at Hinaidi was indicated to be permitted for a period of "five years after the entry into force of this Treaty." This time was provided "in order to enable His Majesty the King of 'Iraq to organise the necessary forces to replace them."
RAF Dhibban was built to replace Hinaidi and the RAF began to move there in 1936, and Hinaidi was handed over to the Iraqi Government in 1938.
By April 1941, during the 1941 Iraqi coup d'état, the airfield had been vacated by the British and was renamed "Rashid Airfield" by the Iraqis. The name was in honour of Rashid Ali, former Iraqi Prime Minister and the leader of the coup. During the Anglo-Iraqi War in May 1941, the station was used by the Royal Iraqi Air Force in the fighting against the RAF.

Flying Units and Aircraft

The squadrons were also detached to other airfields during their time at Hinaidi.
A Communications Flight was posted to Hinaidi.

Units