History
RAF Shandur was originally known as
Station "X", and was renamed to Shandur on 22 January 1940.
From 1941 to 1942, RAF Shandur provided training for RAF crews who operated Martin Marylands. In May 1943, the No. 70 Operating Training Unit was under the control of No. 203 Squadron RAF, and moved to the airfield for training operations until January 1945 when it was disbanded. There was also a Royal Canadian Air Force unit presence here. According to German maps, RAF Shandur may have been mistaken as RAF Shaluffa.
Post-war Usage
On 25 September, 1945, RAF Shandur was reopened. It was part of AHQ Eastern Mediterranean from September 1945 until 15 August, 1946. On 15 August, 1946, the station HQ was disbanded and closed.
In late 1947, the ex-RAF station began serving as the base for the 4th Royal Tank Regiment equipped with Cromwell, Comet, and Sherman tanks. It was also equipped with American Jeeps and Chevrolet 3-ton vehicles (‘B’ vehicles). In 1951, near the airfield was Camp Shandur, where the 16th Parachute Brigade of the 3rd Battalion was stationed. Shortly afterwards, operations were moved to Moascar Garrison. RAF Shandur experienced extreme weather conditions, such as snow falling in March 1950, and heavy rainfall that led to flooding in the Nissen huts. The 4th RTR remained at the base until 1950, and was the only complete tank regiments trained there, remaining in the area until 1954. Due to the increasing Suez Crisis in 1956, the remaining units were withdrawn from the base. The airfield eventually fell into neglect, having little Egyptian usage.
