RAF Iraq Command facts for kids

Quick facts for kids RAF Iraq Command
Founded	1922–1941
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Command
Role	Control of RAF Forces in Iraq

The Iraq Command was a special group of the British Armed Forces. It was mostly led by the Royal Air Force (RAF). This command was in charge of all British forces in Iraq during the 1920s and early 1930s. This was when Iraq was under British control, a time called the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. Later, it was known as British Forces in Iraq until 1941. This group included soldiers from the RAF, Royal Navy, British Army, and local units. An RAF officer, usually an Air Vice-Marshal, was in charge.

Why the Iraq Command Was Formed

After World War I, the British military cut down on its spending. The new RAF took on the job of keeping peace in the British Empire from the air. In May 1920, a big uprising started in Iraq. This rebellion quickly spread across the country.

The British government in London needed a solution. The Army suggested sending many more soldiers to Iraq. But this idea was too expensive for the government. Winston Churchill, who was then a government minister, remembered how well the RAF had done in Somaliland. He asked Trenchard, the head of the RAF, for a cheaper plan. Trenchard suggested using air power to control large areas. This was much cheaper than using many soldiers on the ground.

By 1920, an RAF "Wing" (a group of squadrons) was set up in Mesopotamia (Iraq). In January 1921, this Wing became a "Group," which is a larger air force unit.

Decisions at the Cairo Conference

In March 1921, a very important meeting happened in Cairo. It was called the Cairo Conference. Churchill, who was now the Secretary of State for the Colonies, met with the leaders of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. They decided that all British forces in Iraq would be controlled by the RAF.

The idea was to use the same "air control" method that had worked in Somaliland. They wanted to apply it to Iraq, which was a much larger and more troubled area. So, on October 1, 1922, the Mesopotamian Group became the new Iraq Command. This new command was given control over all British forces in Iraq.

Where the Command Was Located

The main office for the Air Headquarters (AHQ) was first in the Old British Residency in Baghdad. The officers lived in different places around Baghdad. The airmen stayed in a special area called a compound at Southgate.

In December 1928, the Headquarters moved from Baghdad to RAF Hinaidi Cantonment. It was set up in one part of the old RAF General Hospital buildings. Almost everyone working at the AHQ then lived at RAF Hinaidi.

Later, in 1937, the Air Headquarters moved again. This time, it went to the newly built RAF Dhibban. This place was renamed RAF Habbaniya in 1938. The Air Officer Commanding then lived in a special house called Air House at Habbaniya.

Important Actions and Events

The Iraq Command was involved in several military actions:

• 1920 to 1922 - The Great Iraqi Revolution: This major rebellion began in Baghdad in the summer of 1920. It continued until 1922.
• February to May 1923 - Dealing with Sheikh Mahmud: Sheikh Mahmud was causing trouble for the British. The RAF dropped special bombs near Sulaymaniyah to try and make him more friendly to British policies. British ground forces took over Sulaymaniyah on May 17, and Sheikh Mahmud ran away to Persia.
• March to April 1923 - Stopping Turkish Plans: The British found out that Turkey was planning an attack on Kurdistan. Local tribes who supported Sheikh Mahmud were helping them. British troops and local forces took over Rowanduz and pushed the Turkish troops into nearby Persia.
• April 1923 - First Air Troop Movement: The RAF flew 280 Sikh soldiers from Kingarban to Kirkuk. This was the first time British troops were moved by air.
• December 25, 1923 - King of Kurdistan: Sheikh Mahmud declared himself the King of Kurdistan. After this, the RAF bombed his house in Sulaymaniyah.
• December 1923 to January 1924 - Stopping Raiders: The RAF bombed Akhwan raiders from Najd. This was to stop their attacks on tribes living in southern Iraq.
• May 4, 1924 - Restoring Order in Kirkuk: There was a fight between Assyrian local forces and Muslims in Kirkuk. The Assyrian forces caused a lot of chaos. Air Vice-Marshal J F A Higgins had two groups of soldiers from the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers flown from RAF Hinaidi to Kirkuk to bring back order.
• May 5, 1924 - Reinforcements Arrive: The soldiers were joined by two more groups of infantry, also flown in by air. No. 30 Squadron RAF flew over the Kirkuk area to gather information.

What Happened Next

Since August 1921, Faisal I had been the King of Iraq. He ruled under a League of Nations Mandate. In 1932, this mandate ended, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq became officially independent. However, because of the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930, British forces stayed in Iraq.

Around 1933 or 1934, "Iraq Command" was renamed "British Forces in Iraq." By the late 1930s, these forces were only at two Royal Air Force stations. These were RAF Shaibah near Basrah and RAF Habbaniya west of Baghdad. There were several commanders for the "British Forces in Iraq." This command seemed to last until 1942. During the Anglo-Iraqi War in 1941, a new group called Iraqforce took over this command.

On November 1, 1941, "British Forces in Iraq" was renamed Air Headquarters Iraq (AHQ Iraq).

Leaders of the Command

Here are some of the important leaders of the Iraq Command:

Early Leaders

• January 6, 1921: Group Captain A E Borton (as Officer Commanding, HQ Mesopotamian Group)
• October 13, 1921: Group Captain, later Air Commodore, A E Borton (as Officer Commanding, HQ Iraq Group)

Leaders of RAF Iraq Command

• October 1, 1922: Air Vice-Marshal J M Salmond
• March 13, 1924: Air Vice-Marshal J F A Higgins
• November 3, 1926: Air Vice-Marshal E L Ellington
• November 1, 1928: Air Vice-Marshal H R M Brooke-Popham
• October 2, 1930: Air Vice-Marshal E R Ludlow-Hewitt
• 1932: Air Commodore C L Courtney (temporary)
• November 23, 1932: Air Vice-Marshal C S Burnett

Leaders of British Forces in Iraq

• 1932: Air Vice-Marshal C S Burnett
• 1934: Air Vice Marshal W G S Mitchell
• 1937: Air Vice Marshal / Air Marshal (from 1939) C L Courtney
• 1937: Air Vice Marshall John Tyssen (from November 20, 1937)
• 1939: Air Vice Marshal H G Smart
• 1941: Air Vice Marshal J H. D'Albiac

Chief Staff Officers

These officers served as Chief Staff Officer (or Senior Air Staff Officer) at the headquarters of Iraq Command:

• February 2, 1923: Air Commodore L E O Charlton (resigned)
• October 22, 1923: Air Commodore J G Hearson
• August 19, 1924: Air Commodore H C T Dowding
• April 24, 1926: Air Commodore T C R Higgins
• March 9, 1928: Group Captain (later Air Commodore) F W Bowhill (as Senior Air Staff Officer)

See also