RAF Hinaidi - British Outpost in Mesopotamia

One hundred years ago, RAF Hinaidi was the centre of operations for all British Forces in Mesopotamia, an area covering present day Iraq, parts of south-west Iran, south-east Turkey (Turkiye), north-east Syria and Kuwait. In its heyday in the late 'twenties and 'thirties, the heavily guarded cantonment located in the southern suburbs of Baghdad was home to nine thousand people and over the sixteen year operational life of RAF Hinaidi, a total of seven RAF Squadrons were based there at one time or another, as were the Armoured Car Companies, the Iraqi Levies, RAF contractors and civilian employees. The facilities provided for those who worked and lived there eventually included three clubs (two for officers), playing fields, a swimming pool, tennis courts, squash courts, a golf course, a ‘point to point’ course, a large stadium, three churches, a college with library and even a post office. Last but not least, a large hospital was built along the western edge of the cantonment. I have hundreds of private photos given to me over the years that show the life at RAF Hinaidi, and here is just one of them, showing men enjoying off-duty time at the swimming pool. For more information see the RAF Hinaidi section of Steve Buster Johnson's website.

Off-duty Swimming at RAF Hinaidi, Baghdad, 1933