Fayid
Egypt
About
Fayid was an RAF station near the Great Bitter Lake, opened during the Second World War in the Suez Canal zone. It supported RAF operations and later became an important post-war British base in Egypt. The site was subsequently transferred to Egyptian control and remains an air base.
Photographs
Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943 Wing Commander R J Wells (far left), the Commanding Officer of No. 108 Squadron RAF, has a final word with his crews in front of a Vickers Wellington Mark IC, before taking off from Fayid, Egypt, on an operation. Wells lost his life on 16 March 1942.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vickers_Wellington_-_Fayid_-_Royal_Air_Force_Operations_in_North_Africa,_1939-1943_CM2380.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1940-1943. An intelligence officer illustrates a target by the use of a sand model to bomber aircrews of No. 108 Squadron RAF at Fayid, Egypt.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force-_Operations_in_the_Middle_East_and_North_Africa,_1940-1943._CM3383.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Aircrew of No. 462 Squadron RAAF attend a briefing at Fayid, Egypt, before undertaking a night raid to Benghazi or Tobruk (the “Mail Run”). The photograph was taken shortly after the formation of the Squadron when Nos. 10/227 and 76/462 Combined Squadrons were merged at Fayid on 7 September 1942. Although nominally an Australian unit, 462 Squadron contained a preponderance of British personnel at this time.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force-_Operations_in_the_Middle_East_and_North_Africa,_1939-1943._CM4116.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Armourers pull a trolley loaded with 500-lb GP bombs to a waiting Consolidated Liberator Mark II of No. 159 Squadron RAF at Fayid, Egypt.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force-_Operations_in_the_Middle_East_and_North_Africa,_1939-1943._CM3061.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Consolidated Liberator Mark IIs of No. 159 Squadron RAF, lined up at Fayid, Egypt.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force-_Operations_in_the_Middle_East_and_North_Africa,_1939-1943._CM3056.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Handley Page Halifax Mark II Series I, W1170 ‘U’, of No. 462 Squadron RAAF, taxying out at Fayid, Egypt, for a night raid on Axis positions in North Africa. The photograph was taken shortly after the formation of the Squadron when Nos. 10/227 and 76/462 Combined Squadrons were merged at Fayid on 7 September 1942. Although nominally an Australian unit, 462 Squadron contained a preponderance of British personnel at this time.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Operations_in_the_Middle_East_and_North_Africa,_1939-1943._ME(RAF)6086.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Handley Page Halifax B Mark II Series I, W1176 ‘Z’, of No. 462 Squadron RAAF, awaits its load of 500-lb MC bombs, being prepared by armourers in the foreground, at Fayid, Egypt, before a night raid to Benghazi or Tobruk (the “Mail Run”) is undertaken. The photograph was taken shortly after the formation of the Squadron when Nos. 10/227 and 76/462 Combined Squadrons were merged at Fayid on 7 September 1942. Although nominally an Australian unit, 462 Squadron contained a preponderance of British personnel at this time.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Operations_in_the_Middle_East_and_North_Africa,_1939-1943._ME(RAF)6045.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Three Martin Marauder Mark Is (FK375 ‘D’ “Dominion Revenge” nearest), of No. 14 Squadron RAF based at Fayid, Egypt, flying in starboard echelon formation.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Operations_in_the_Middle_East_and_North_Africa,_1939-1943._CM5000.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943 Aircrews of No. 39 Squadron RAF gather round Flying Officer A O S Jepson in front of his Bristol Beaufort Mark II as he recounts his part in the Squadron’s attack on the Italian Battle Fleet on 15 June 1942, for the benefit of the press cameras at Fayid, Egypt. A force of 12 Beauforts set out from LG 05 near Sidi Barrani to attack the Fleet, but was soon reduced to five following an attack off Derna by German fighters. The remainder attacked two battleships, and a further three aircraft were badly damaged in the process before the survivors flew on to Malta. Although strikes on the warships were claimed, the Italian Fleet was undamaged, except for one hit on the battleship LITTORIO with a 500-lb bomb dropped by aircraft of the USAAF ‘Halpro’ Detachment which also participated in the attacks. Jepson and the survivors flew to Fayid four days later to attend a press day with members of the ‘Halpro’ Force.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Operations_in_the_Middle_East_and_North_Africa,_1939-1943_CM2972.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943 An air gunner mans the early twin-Browning machine gun mounting in the tail of a Consolidated Liberator Mark II of No. 159 Squadron RAF at Fayid, Egypt.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Operations_in_the_Middle_East_and_North_Africa,_1939-1943_CM2847.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943 Two beam gunners shown at their positions in a Consolidated Liberator Mark II of No. 159 Squadron RAF, shortly after the Squadron’s arrival at Fayid, Egypt, to commence operations.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Operations_in_the_Middle_East_and_North_Africa,_1939-1943_CM2846.jpgView source & full licence →Martin Marauder Mk I of No. 14 Squadron RAF based at Fayid, Egypt, 1942. Marauder Mark I, FK375 ‘D’ “Dominion Revenge”, of No. 14 Squadron RAF based at Fayid, Egypt, in flight. This aircraft was lost during a torpedo attack off Aghios Giorgios Island on 3 January 1943.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martin_Marauder_Mk_I_of_No._14_Squadron_RAF_based_at_Fayid,_Egypt,_1942._CM5001.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Handley Page Halifax Mark II Series I, W1170 ‘U’, of No. 462 Squadron RAAF, taxying out at Fayid, Egypt, for a night raid on Axis positions in North Africa. The photograph was taken shortly after the formation of the Squadron when Nos. 10/227 and 76/462 Combined Squadrons were merged at Fayid on 7 September 1942. Although nominally an Australian unit, 462 Squadron contained a preponderance of British personnel at this time.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Handley_Page_Halifax_Mark_II_Series_I,_W1170_%27U%27,_of_No._463_Squadron_RAAF,_taxying_out_at_Fayid,_Egypt,_for_a_night_raid_on_Axis_positions.pngView source & full licence →Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Handley Page Halifax Mark II Series I, W1170 ‘U’, of No. 462 Squadron RAAF, taxying out at Fayid, Egypt, for a night raid on Axis positions in North Africa. The photograph was taken shortly after the formation of the Squadron when Nos. 10/227 and 76/462 Combined Squadrons were merged at Fayid on 7 September 1942. Although nominally an Australian unit, 462 Squadron contained a preponderance of British personnel at this time.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Handley_Page_Halifax_Mark_II_Series_I,_W1170_%27U%27,_of_No._462_Squadron_RAAF,_taxying_out_at_Fayid,_Egypt,_for_a_night_raid_on_Axis_positions.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1940-1943. Handley Page Halifax B Mark II Series I, W1176 ‘ZA-Z’, of No. 10/227 Squadron RAF while based at Fayid, Egypt, in flight over the Western Desert.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Handley_Page_Halifax_-_Royal_Air_Force-_Operations_in_North_Africa,_1940-1943._CM3464.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Armourers roll 500-lb MC bombs towards a Handley Page Halifax B Mark II Series of No. 462 Squadron RAAF, in a sandbagged revetment at Fayid, Egypt, before a night raid to Benghazi or Tobruk (the “Mail Run”) is undertaken. The photograph was taken shortly after the formation of the Squadron when Nos. 10/227 and 76/462 Combined Squadrons were merged at Fayid on 7 September 1942. Although nominally an Australian unit, 462 Squadron contained a preponderance of British personnel at this time.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Handley_Page_Halifax_-_Royal_Air_Force-_Operations_in_North_Africa,_1939-1943._CM4115.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Handley Page Halifax B Mark IIs of No. 462 Squadron RAAF parked on the perimeter track at Fayid, Egypt, before a night sortie against enemy columns retreating after the Battle of El Alamein.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Handley_Page_Halifax_-_Royal_Air_Force-_Operations_in_North_Africa,_1939-1943._CM3963.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1940-1943. Armourers hauling a trolley of 500-lb Gp bombs towards Consoldiated Liberator Mark II, AL574 ‘O’, of No. 108 Squadron RAF, at Fayid, Egypt. As far as is known only two Liberators were employed operationally on long-range bombing sorties by the Squadron before it disbanded in December 1942.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Consolidated_Liberator_-_Fayid_-_Royal_Air_Force-_Operations_in_North_Africa,_1940-1943._CM3390.jpgView source & full licence →Royal Air Force- Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1940-1943. Consolidated Liberator Mark II, AL574 ‘O’, one of the handful of Liberators operated by No. 108 Squadron RAF in the Middle East at this time, parked on a dispersal pan at Fayid, Egypt, with its crew standing in front.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Consolidated_Liberator_-_Fayid_-_Royal_Air_Force-_Operations_in_North_Africa,_1940-1943._CM3386.jpgView source & full licence →American Aircraft in Royal Air Force Service, 1939-1945- Consolidated Liberator. Consolidated Liberator B Mark II, AL530 ‘Q’, of ‘B’ Flight, No. 108 Squadron RAF based at Fayid, Egypt, in flight. On the disbandment of the Squadron in December 1942, this aircraft was transferred to the Special Liberator Flight.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_Aircraft_in_Royal_Air_Force_Service,_1939-1945-_Consolidated_Liberator._ME(RAF)3495.jpgView source & full licence →American Aircraft in RAF Service 1939-1945- Consolidated Model 32 Liberator. Liberator B Mark II, AL579, of No. 159 Squadron RAF waits on the ground at Fayid, Egypt, as armourers wheel a trolley filled with 500-lb GP Bombs into position.
ⓘ licence & credit
Royal Air Force official photographer / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_Aircraft_in_RAF_Service_1939-1945-_Consolidated_Model_32_Liberator._CM3063.jpgView source & full licence →Wing Commander R J Wells (far left), the Commanding Officer of No. 108 Squadron RAF, addresses his crews in front of a Vickers Wellington Mark IC, before taking off from Fayid, Egypt, on an operation.