Sidi Haneish Airfield
| Sidi Haneish Airfield Haggag el Qasaba Flugplatz | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates |
31°08′30″N 027°31′15″E / 31.14167°N 27.52083°E (East Airfield)[1] 31°08′30″N 027°31′10″E / 31.14167°N 27.51944°E (West Airfield)[2] |
| Type | Military airfield complex |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by |
 German Luftwaffe United States Army Air Forces |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1941 |
| In use | 1941-1942 |
| Battles/wars | Western Desert Campaign |
Sidi Haneish Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield complex in Egypt, in the western desert, about 235 miles (376 km) 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 18 American jeeps, the raiders destroyed 18 German aircraft and damaged several other aircraft in a night raid. The attack damaged the Luftwaffe's capability during the German invasion of Egypt, and also by the destruction of many transport aircraft, severely diminishing its ability to re-supply German land forces in the field.[3]
The airfield was later used by the United States Army Air Force Ninth Air Force during the Eastern Desert Campaign by the British Eighth Army, which the 57th Fighter Group, flew P-40 Warhawks from on 8–12 November 1942.
It was apparently abandoned after the western desert campaign moved into Libya, and eventually was taken over by the desert. Close examination of aerial photography of the desert shows some evidence of disturbance which could indicate where it existed.
British airfields
- The LG-12 (Landing Ground) North site is given as- 31°09′0″N 027°32′0″E / 31.15000°N 27.53333°E,
- The LG-13 South is given as- 31°07′5″N 027°31′0″E / 31.11806°N 27.51667°E
- The LG-101 is given as- 31°06′0″N 027°31′0″E / 31.10000°N 27.51667°E
- The LG-102 is given as- 31°06′0″N 027°33′5″E / 31.10000°N 27.55139°E
See also
- List of World War II North Africa Airfields
- David Stirling
- Special Air Service
- No. 450 Squadron RAAF
- No. 601 Squadron RAF
- Second Battle of El Alamein
- 559th Flying Training Squadron
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
- RAF Squadrons by C. G. Jefford. ISBN 1-84037-141-2 (page 133 airfield locations)
External links
- http://wikimapia.org/#lat=31.1999177&lon=27.5515437&z=16&l=0&m=b
- lists several airfields in the area. http://books.google.com/books?id=CCbkpfKkhWsC&pg=PA53&dq=RAF+landing+ground+13+sidi+haneish&hl=en&ei=tcW1Tb_SCo7PiAL1ytSvBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=RAF%20landing%20ground%2013%20sidi%20haneish&f=false
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