Lod Air Force Base

Lod Air Force Base
Air Force Base 27

RAF Lydda
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type Military
Operator Royal Air Force
Israeli Air Force
Location Israel
Built 1940
In use 1940–1948 RAF Use
1948–2008 Israeli Use
Coordinates 32°00′41″N 034°53′18″E / 32.01139°N 34.88833°E / 32.01139; 34.88833Coordinates: 32°00′41″N 034°53′18″E / 32.01139°N 34.88833°E / 32.01139; 34.88833
Map
Lod Air Force Base

Location in Israel

Runways
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Lod Air Force Base, also Air Force Base 27, was an Israeli Air Force airfield that was part of the Ben Gurion International Airport, located approximately 7 km (4 mi) north of Lod; 8 km (5 mi) east-southeast of Tel Aviv.

From 1940 to 1948 it was known as RAF Station Lydda while under British Royal Air Force control.

History

Before the Israeli declaration of independence, the airfield was a British installation known as RAF Station Lydda — a Royal Air Force station in Palestine between 1943 and 1948.

The Wilhelma Airport, built in 1936, was used by the Allies during the Second World War becoming RAF Lydda on 1 March 1943. After the Israeli declaration of independence, it became an IAF airfield and the only international airport of the new state of Israel. The airfield military base officially closed down on 2 August 2008, after its last units moved to Nevatim. On the same airfield the Ben Gurion International Airport is still operating as the main airport of Israel.

RAF Operational units

Between July and November, 1942, the US Army, Middle East Air Force (USAMEAF) operated B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator aircraft from RAF Lydda. These aircraft were reassigned to Egypt in November.

See also

References

Citations

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

    Bibliography

    • Jefford, Wing Commander C.G., MBE,BA,RAF (Retd). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2001. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
    • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO and John Hamlin. RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.
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