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Ben Lovegrave has kindly allowed me to use this photograph from the 55 (Bomber) Squadron archives. It was taken of Plot 3 at Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery (formerly Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery) and shows how meticulously the cemetery was laid out and how well tended the graves were before the cemetery was abandoned. 1930 wide angle view of Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, Baghdad (formerly the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery)

For those interested in knowing the original design and grave layout for the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery (formerly known as the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery), here is a 1964 diagram that was produced by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Southern Region in 1964. It shows that the cemetery had two entrances as well as a small building just to the south of the western entrance, designated as "gardener's quarters". Apparently, the same man (an Iraqi local) tended the graves for many years. Official 1965 Commonwealth War Graves Commission plan of the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery (formerly the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery)

I was contacted by Cliff Thornton regarding a 55 Squadron man who died in an accident while stationed at the Aircraft Deport Baghdad and was buried at Hinaidi on the 2nd June 1935. As well as providing me with useful background information on LAC Robert Raw, Cliff also sent me photographs of Robert Raw's grave as well as the wreath placed on the grave and a photograph of the badge given to Robert Raw when he undertook his apprenticeship at RAF Halton. Badge given to LAC Robert Raw RAF upon completing his apprenticeship at RAF Halton Original headstone for LAC Robert Raw, RAF Aircraft Depot, Baghdad Wreath laid at the headstone of LAC Robert Raw at the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, Baghdad

A month ago I received an email from Bill Palmer of the 55 Squadron Association (55 Sqn has the most men buried of any RAF squadron at the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery - 25 graves) after he received a photograph showing two headstones, one for a 55 Squadron pilot and the other for an aircraftsman who was with 6 Squadron. With both men listed as being buried at Hinaidi, it was thought the photograph had been taken at Hinaidi before proper headstones had been erected. However, after lengthy investigation, I concluded that these graves were in fact at Mosul and that the bodies were later exhumed and re-buried at Hinaidi. For the full story, please refer to the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery - Then and Now page of this website. RAF graves at Mosul - 55 Squadron and 6 Squadron

On the 18th October 1914, shortly after it had been flown across the channel, BE2 Serial 636 was at Poperinghe for one day, having a Union Jack painted on the underside of the port wing. Before this date, there were no markings on the aircraft to show whether an aircraft was friendly or an enemy, especially difficult for soldiers on the ground when defending their position. BE2 Serial No 206, on charge with 6 Squadron on 18th October 1914

I have added a searchable database to my website containing the name and details of every 6 Squadron man (195 in total) who has died in service since 6 Squadron was formed in January 1914. Here is a graphic that shows the deaths in alphabetical sequence within the groupings WW1, 'Between the wars', WW2 and post-ww2. 6 Squadron RAF Roll of Honour

Jasmin Soliman, Archivist at the Akkasah Centre for Photography (NYU Abu Dhabi) recently invited me to look at several photograph albums that have been digitised and made available to the general public. The photographers were mostly RAF servicemen who too photographs of their time, mostly in Iraq and Egypt but also Palestine and Aden. The time periods range from 1910 through to the 1940s and the albums contain both interesting and unique photographs, well worth an hour or so of inspection. By pasting the following link in your browser you will be able to choose which album you would like to look at. https://akkasah.org/en/page/frontpage~2Fcollections/photo-albums There are also several photographs of RAF aircraft crashes. Below is an example, the lower photograph featuring a Royal Aircraft Factory RE8 that had turned over on its nose after the pilot tried to force-land in the desert. Crash of a Royal Aircraft Factory RE8 in the Iraqi desert

Kevin Godward kindly forwarded me photographs taken of the burial of his great uncle at the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery (now known as Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery). AC1 David Arthur Henry Oldfield was serving in the RAF at the Aircraft Depot in Baghdad when he became ill (details unknown) and died on the 20th August 1930. The following photographs were taken at the funeral ceremony and later when the headstone was erected. I have included a photograph of David Oldfield in uniform, the photo taken in England. Burial procession at the Ma'Asdker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, Baghdad (formerly Hinaidi RAF War Cemetery Burial procession at the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, Baghdad (formerly Hinaidi RAF War Cemetery AC1 David Arthur Henry Oldfield was serving at the RAF Aircraft Depot in Baghdad when he became ill, died on the 20th August 1930 and buried at Hinaidi RAF Cemetery Headstone for AC1 David Oldfield RAF at Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, Baghdad AC1 David Arthur Henry Oldfield Royal Air Force

Anyone interested in WW1 aviation would know of the extraordinary adventures and inventiveness of Wing Commander Louis Strange DSO, OBE, MC, DFC and Bar, a man who served in the RFC/RAF in both world wars with great distinction. However, few would be aware that in his early air force years, Louis invented more than a fixed pole mounting for a Lewis machine gun. Below is a photograph of the BE2c (Serial 1748) that the newly promoted Captain Strange flew for two months after he was posted to 6 Squadron at Abeele as a flight commander in February 1915. It was to this BE2c he added a rudimentary bomb rack of his own design and flew solo (a dangerous but necessary requirement to compensate for the weight of the four 20 lb bombs attached beneath the aircraft) to Courtrai station on the evening of the 10th March 1915. His mission was to bomb a troop train full of soldiers on their way to reinforce the German defences at the village of Neuve-Chapelle. To do this, Louis had first to negotiate a path through the German anti-aircraft guns defending the station before descending to a height of 150 feet in order to silence the sentries with a well-aimed hand grenade. He then dropped his bombs on the train and station buildings, causing 75 casualties and putting Courtrai station out of action for three days. This dangerous but successful mission earned Louis Strange a Military Cross and was later acknowledged as being the first pre-planned bombing mission ever carried out by the Royal Flying Corps – another ‘first’ for 6 Squadron. BE2c 1748 - World's First Bomber in WW1

There’s a lot more to this crash photograph than meets the eye. Twenty-year-old 2nd Lt Philip Smith transferred from the Army Service Corps into the Royal Flying Corps in March 1916 and only three months later on the 22nd June was posted overseas to 6 Squadron as a newly-qualified pilot. Philip’s first two weeks on active service were almost his last, an all too frequent fate for novice pilots during WW1. Four days after arriving at the squadron, he misjudged landing back at Abeele after a practice flight and ran into a ditch (see attached photo). His BE2c was quickly repaired and he was back in the air, but six days later, whilst leaving on a mission in the same aircraft with his observer, Captain T R Duff, the engine failed on take-off and they came to grief just outside Abeele. No-one was injured in the crash and the BE2c was put back together again, remaining on charge with 6 Squadron until it was flown back to England “time-expired” in October 1916. Over the next few months, Philip Smith became a skilled pilot, with many of his exploits mentioned in 6 Squadron’s operational diary, before he was promoted to Captain and flight commander in January 1917. He even succeeded in shooting down an Albatros DII, despite flying an obsolete BE2d two-seater. His time with 6 Squadron was cut short on the 1st May 1917 when his RE8 was attacked by five red Albatros scouts. With the help of another 6 Squadron RE8 that came to his aid, he managed to land his damaged aircraft, despite bullet wounds to his right foot. Philip Smith returned to England on a hospital ship to recuperate, but it wasn’t until March 1918 that he was able to resume active service as a pilot. This time, instead of flying a two-seater reconnaissance bomber (the RE8), he joined 46 Squadron at the Filescamp Farm aerodrome in France, flying the Sopwith Camel fighter. In the short time he was with 46 squadron, Captain Sidney Philip Smith DSO was credited with a further four aerial victories, officially making him a flying ‘Ace’. Sadly, during a low patrol on the 6th April 1918, Philip Smith’s aircraft was shot down in flames, becoming the 76th victim of Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen. Philip Smith’s body was never found. Lt SidneyPhilipSmith - First Crash in BE2c 2113

This is a photograph of one of the earliest Royal Aircraft Factory BE2s to serve with the Royal Flying Corps, taken at an air show before the Great War, either at Aldershot or Farnborough. This particular aircraft, Serial No: 206, set a record (at that time) for longevity when it was wrecked in an accident on Abeele aerodrome and returned to UK on the 2nd September 1915. It had been on charge with 6 squadron three times, including when 6 Squadron was formed in 1914, the most recent allocation lasting almost 9 months. During its long service life, 206 had also served with 2, 4 and 1 Squadrons since it was first flown in England during October 1912. During its time on active service, the aircraft had been completely rebuilt at least three times, with improvements incorporated as and when they became available from the factory. BE2c No 206 which was on charge with 6 Squadron early in WW1

This particular BE2c (‘Liverpool’ Serial No: 2126) flew against the odds by remaining in service with 6 Squadron for nine months, from January 1916 to October 1916 – amassing during that time an amazing 225 flying hours without any major incident. Note the rear-facing Lewis gun mounted on the rear edge of the front (observer’s) cockpit. BE2c "Liverpool" Serial 2126, on charge with 6 Squadron in 1916