RAF Iraq Command

RAF Iraq Command
Founded 1922 - 1941
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
Type Command
Role Control of RAF Forces in Iraq

Iraq Command was the RAF commanded inter-service command in charge of British forces in Iraq in the 1920s and early 1930s, during the period of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. It continued as British Forces in Iraq until 1941 when it was replaced by AHQ Iraq. It consisted of Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, British Army, Commonwealth and locally raised units and was commanded by an RAF officer normally of Air Vice-Marshal rank.[1]

Contents

Origins

Following the end of World War I and the accompanying British defence cuts, the new RAF took up the task of policing the Empire from the air. It was argued that the use of air power would prove to be a more cost-effective way of controlling large areas than by using conventional land forces. In Mesopotamia there was a need to counter Turkish aspirations and by 1920 a Mesopotamian Wing had been established. In January 1921 Mesopotamian Group was formed by raising Mesopotamian Wing to group status and on 1 October 1922 Mesopotamian Group was absorbed into the newly formed Iraq Command which was given control of all British forces in Iraq.

Actions

Iraq Command was responsible for the following military actions:

The above section is incomplete.

Follow-on

Since August 1921, Faisal I had been King of Iraq under the League of Nations Mandate. As of 1932, the mandate ended and the Kingdom of Iraq was nominally independent. In accordance with the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930, British forces remained in Iraq.

In 1933 or 1934, "Iraq Command" was renamed the "British Forces in Iraq." By the late 1930s, these forces were restricted to two Royal Air Force stations, RAF Shaibah near Basra and RAF Habbaniya west of Baghdad. There were several Commanders of the "British Forces in Iraq". This command appears to lasted until 1942. During the 1941 Anglo-Iraqi War, Iraqforce subsumed this command.

In 1 November 1941, "British Forces in Iraq" was renamed Air Headquarters Iraq (AHQ Iraq).

Commanders

Commanders included:[2]

Precursor formations

RAF Iraq Command

British Forces in Iraq

Chief staff officers

The following served as Chief Staff Officer (or Senior Air Staff Officer) at the headquarters of Iraq Command:

list incomplete

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Appointments Flight, November 16, 1922
  2. ^ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Overseas Commands - Iraq, India and the Far East
  3. ^ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Christopher Courtney
  4. ^ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Lionel Charlton
  5. ^ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - John Hearson
  6. ^ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Hugh Dowding
  7. ^ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Thomas Higgins
  8. ^ Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Frederick Bowhill

References