RAF Hinaidi, Former British military airbase in Baghdad, Iraq.
RAF Hinaidi was a military airbase located east of Baghdad along the Tigris River, featuring aircraft hangars, barracks, a hospital, and communication systems. The installation sprawled across several hundred acres and functioned as a major air operations hub for the region.
The Royal Air Force established this airbase in 1922 and operated it until 1937, when British forces relocated their operations following the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty. The facility then came under Iraqi control and served the Royal Iraqi Air Force.
The RAF Peace Cemetery at this location honors 299 British service members, many of whom served during the early 20th century conflicts. This burial ground reflects the multinational military presence that shaped the region during that era.
The site is difficult to access and lies in an area marked by military-controlled zones. Visitors should understand this is a former military installation that today shows minimal visible remains.
During the 1941 coup, authorities renamed the installation to Rashid Airfield and it later sustained damage from aerial bombardment. This renaming marked a turning point in Iraq's political trajectory during the Second World War.
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