records

RAF MAURIPUR

(Excerpts from official RAF Records)

RAF Station, Mauripur, Sind, officially opened on 26 April, 1943, although working parties of the Equipment and Signals Sections had been on the site for a considerable time previously. The Station was initially under the command of Wing Commander E A Keegan (who handed over to Wing Commander C H Boxall on 29 April, 1943) and incorporated the following units:

(a) Station Headquarters
(b) No 317 MU (Servicing Unit)
(c) No 21 Ferry Control
(d) Main Ferry Crew Pool
(e) Training Flight (Ferry Crews)
(f) Transit Ferry Pool
(g) Servicing Party

Consequent upon the formation of the above, ARC Karachi was be disbanded, personnel being used for implementing the establishment for RAF Station, Mauripur, Sind, with additions.

The functions of the units was:

(a) Station Headquarters
Administration of all Units incorporated in the establishment of RAF Station Headquarters, Mauripur, Sind.

(b) No 317 Maintenance Unit
Inspection, servicing and testing of reinforcement aircraft received at No 21 Ferry Control. The Unit carried out major and minor inspections as necessary, also minor repair. Major repair and any work beyond its capacity was undertaken by No. 320 MU Base Repair Depot, Drigh Road.

(c) No 21 Ferry Control
(i) Receipt of RAF reinforcement aircraft flown into the Command.
(ii) Ferrying of all reinforcement aircraft through its sector.
(iii) Control of aircrews employed at ASUs or RAPs in its sector.
(iv) Control of such RSPs as may be allotted to it.
(v) Provision of all briefing facilities as required for routing aircraft to the next control.

(d) Main Ferry Crew Pool
This Unit was the parent unit for all Ferry Crews in the India Command. It was responsible to Headquarters No 179 Ferry Wing for the standard of flying and well being of all aircrews on its strength, and allocated aircrews to Ferry Controls to meet the varying Ferry Commitments.

(e) Training Flight
Responsible for maintaining the standard of flying of all Ferry Air Crews.

(f) Transit Ferry Pool
Accommodation of all aircrews ex the India Command and other flying personnel whose parent Unit was not located at Karachi.

(g) Servicing Unit
Responsible for the Daily Inspection of aircraft awaiting to be ferried, the servicing of the Training Flight and escort aircraft.

The move of 317 Maintenance Unit to Mauripur was delayed because of inadequate hangars, accommodation, and power supply but was finally completed in June 1943. In March 1944 however, 317 MU was disbanded and a Terminal Staging Post was formed and included in the Station establishment.

Other changes which took place included the transfer of No 9 Transit Camp from Malir to Mauripur in September 1944, at which time No 21 Ferry Control was renamed No 8 Ferry Unit, and No 8 Air Transit Section was absorbed into the Staging Post which was renamed No 48 (Terminal) Staging Post.

Command of RAF Mauripur was taken over by Group Captain C F Toogood in February 1944; by Group Captain H N G R Isherwood in October 1944; Group Captain T M Evans in May 1945; and Group Captain K W Niblett in March 1946

In May 1945 a detachment from the station took part in a Victory Parade in Karachi to celebrate the cessation of hostilities in Europe.

Many changes took place during 1947 leading to the setting up of a new Headquarters known as HQ RAF Mauripur under the command of Air Commodore R B Jordan, who assumed responsibility for the command of the RAF in India and Pakistan. The HQ was charged with the policy of effecting the final withdrawal of the RAF from the Indian sub-continent. On 31 December, 1947, the RAF Command in India and Pakistan ceased with the disbandment of RAF HQ Mauripur. An element of the staff of RAF HQ Mauripur remained after 31 December, however, as the RAF Staff of Headquarters British Forces in Pakistan. This HQ was composed of an integrated Army and RAF staff under the command of Group Captain D H F Barnett. RAF Mauripur Staging Post facility continued to provide an important link between the UK and Far East (this was under the Persia/Iraq Headquarters at Habbaniya). The RAF remained there until 1957 when RAF Gan re-opened.

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