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RAF |
Historical
Notes
1947-56 |
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RAF MAURIPUR, PAKISTAN When the new country of Pakistan was established in 1947 the RAF maintained its presence, sharing facilities at Mauripur with the then new Pakistan Air Force. As a Staging Post, Mauripur continued as a strategic link between the UK, Far East, and Australia. In the early 50s it relived its role of 1945-46 in that troops and 'Casevacs' from the Korean War stopped overnight. Right through until the end of 1956 hundreds of aircraft of various nations staged through, the most regular visitors being Hastings of RAF Transport Command on their way to and from the British nuclear test site in Australia. Mauripur was also an emergency airfield for Karachi Airport. Mauripur staging post closed in December, 1956, when operations were transferred to RAF Gan. It holds the distinction of being the last operational RAF airfield on the Indian sub-continent to close.
PAF BASE MASROOR Today, Mauripur continues as a strategic operational base for the Pakistan Air Force, playing a vital role in the air defence of the southern and coastal regions of Pakistan. It is now known as PAF Base Masroor, re-named in memory of one of its Commanders, Air Commodore Masroor Hosain, who was killed in a tragic bird-strike whilst flying from the base. |