RAF Habilayn
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RAF Habilayn  | |
|---|---|
| Al Habilayn, Radfan district in Yemen | |
 Declassified satellite imagery of Habilayn Airfield captured by KH-9 on 1 November 1974. | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Defunct |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator | Royal Air Force Army Air Corps |
| Condition | Demolished |
| Location | |
  RAF Habilayn Shown within Yemen  RAF Habilayn RAF Habilayn (Middle East) | |
| Coordinates | 13°31′27.26″N 44°51′02.68″E / 13.5242389°N 44.8507444°E |
| Site history | |
| Built | January 1964 |
| In use | 1964 - 1967 |
| Battles/wars | Aden Emergency * Radfan Campaign |
Royal Air Force Habilayn or more commonly RAF Habilayn is a former Royal Air Force station located in Al Habilayn, Radfan district, Yemen. The station served as an important forwarding base for British troops during the Radfan Campaign in the Aden Emergency. It was primarily operated by the Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps before being abandoned in 1967.
Radfan campaign
In January 1964, RAF Thumier was constructed by the Royal Engineers, which included an airstrip and a fuel storage dump. Following this, the Royal Air Force deployed aircraft to the airfield including Belvederes, Beverly's, Twin Pioneers, and Beavers. The No. II Squadron RAF Regiment was tasked with supplying and defending the base. Additionally, the 45 Commando, Royal Marines was deployed to be in charge with securing access roads to the base.[1][2]
During the Radfan Campaign in 1964, RAF Thumier served as an important staging base of operations in Area West. It covered continuous unrest in the Radfan hills and the border with Yemen. In 1964, the airstrip was extended to cater the operation of Beverly transports, and helicopters. This also allowed the transportation of additional ground troops. During the time, it served as a forward base for the supply of British troops deployed in the Radfan area. A squadron of Wessex helicopters from aircraft carrier HMS Centaur arrived at the airfield, and were immediately serviced to fly in supplies and equipment to forward positions.[3][2] Operations involved the Westland Wessex helicopters of the 815 Naval Air Squadron and the No. 78 Squadron RAF’s Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneers. By 1966, RAF Thumier was renamed to RAF Habilayn. It consisted of a long hard surfaced strip maintained by the constant application of used engine oil, which splatters on the underside of landing aircraft when freshly treated. The runway was capable of taking aircraft including the Blackburn Beverly, Vickers Valetta, and Douglas DC-3. The Army Air Corps maintained an armed Scout helicopter on permanent detachment at the base, and a number of Bell Sioux AH.1 observation helicopters, while de Havilland Canada Beaver AL.1s of the AAC frequently overnighted. On a daily basis, the No. 78 Squadron RAF’s Wessex helicopters occupied the strip to fly re-supply sorties to British troops stationed in the hills. This in turn, required a couple of aircraft from RAF Khormaksar to be stationed on rotation. On 26 February 1967, a Sioux AH.1 helicopter of the 45 Commando Air Troop crash landed on the runway. The main rotors struck the runway during landing, which caused the aircraft to destabilize and roll over. Despite the rollover, the pilot escaped without injury.[4][5]
