6 Squadron Vampires at RAF Shaibah, Iraq

Main Hangar at Shaibah 2004 — Hangar at Shaibah 2004

Though it is common knowledge that 6 Squadron was based in Iraq for many years (RAF Hinaidi and RAF Habbaniya especially), not many people are aware that on two occasions between February 1953 and September 1955 a detachment of 6 Squadron Vampires was based at RAF Shaibah, thirteen miles SW of Basra. I became aware of the photograph in this post recently though I have been unable to determine its copyright status. The photograph was taken in 1953 or 1954 and features five 6 Squadron Vampire FB-9s sitting on the tarmac in front of the main hangar at RAF Shaibah. The location is definitely RAF Shaibah by the second photograph reproduced here with the kind permission of Wing Commander (Retd) Clive Montellier who took a photograph from the same viewpoint at Shaibah in 2004.