PAF Base Masroor

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For the pilot who the base is named after, see Masroor Hosain.

PAF Base Masroor
Karachi, Sindh in Pakistan
Site information
TypeMilitary airbase
OwnerMinistry of Defense
OperatorPakistan Air Force
Controlled bySouthern Air Command
Other site
facilities		Tactical Air Support School
WebsitePakistan Air Force
Location
PAF Base Masroor is located in Karachi
PAF Base Masroor
PAF Base Masroor
Shown within Karachi
PAF Base Masroor is located in Pakistan
PAF Base Masroor
PAF Base Masroor
PAF Base Masroor (Pakistan)
PAF Base Masroor is located in Asia
PAF Base Masroor
PAF Base Masroor
PAF Base Masroor (Asia)
Coordinates24°53′37″N 66°56′20″E / 24.89361°N 66.93889°E / 24.89361; 66.93889
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In use1940 - present
Battles/warsWorld War II
Garrison information
Current
commander		 Air Commodore Omair
OccupantsNo. 2 Squadron PAF
No. 4 Squadron PAF
No. 8 Squadron PAF
No. 22 Squadron PAF
No. 84 Squadron PAF
Airfield information
IdentifiersIATA: MSR, ICAO: OPMR
Elevation11 metres (36 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
04/22  Asphalt
09/27  Concrete

Pakistan Air Force Base Masroor or more simply PAF Base Masroor (ICAO: OPMR) is the largest airbase operated by the Pakistan Air Force. It is located in the Mauripur area of Karachi, in the Sindh province.[1]

The base was originally known as RIAF Base Mauripur (1940-47), RPAF Station Mauripur (1947-56), and after 23 March 1956, as PAF Station Mauripur.

PAF Base Faisal and PAF Base Bholari are the other Pakistan Air Force bases in Karachi.[2][3]

History

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PAF F-86 Sabres lined up during a ceremony at Masrur

The airbase at Mauripur was established by the RIAF during World War II in 1942 as a transit airfield allowing RAF Drigh Road to concentrate on maintenance. Huge numbers of aircraft staged through Mauripur during and after the end of World War II.[4][5] British units continued to use the airfield after the creation of Pakistan in 1947, finally leaving in 1956.[6] The RAF airfields at Gan and Masirah took over RAF Far East Air Force staging duties from Mauripur and Habbaniya (which became unavailable from 14 July 1958 after the revolution in Iraq).[citation needed]

Historic units and aircraft

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Unit Dates Aircraft Variant Notes
No. 5 Squadron RAF 1947 Hawker Tempest F.2 Single-engined (piston) fighter[7]
No. 10 Squadron RAF 1946-1947 Douglas Dakota Twin-engined piston transport[8]
No. 20 Squadron RAF 1947 Hawker Tempest F.2 [9]
No. 31 Squadron RAF 1946 and 1947 Douglas Dakota Was 77 Sqn[10]
No. 62 Squadron RAF 1947 Douglas Dakota [11]
No. 77 Squadron RAF 1945-1946 Douglas Dakota Renumbered 31 Sqn[12]
No. 117 Squadron RAF 1943 Douglas Dakota [13]
No. 267 Squadron RAF 1945-1946 Douglas Dakota Detachments from Mingaladon[14]
No. 298 Squadron RAF 1946 Handley Page Halifax A.7 Four-engined piston heavy bomber transport conversion[15]

Post-partition era

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After the Partition of British India, the base became RPAF Station Mauripur.[citation needed]

On 24 May 1968, PAF Station Mauripur was renamed to PAF Station Masroor in honor of base commander Masroor Hosain.[4]

During 1979 the base was home to 7 Squadron with the Martin B-57B Canberra.[16]

On 1 July 1970, Pakistan Air Force stations were renamed to bases.[4]

Features

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Masroor airbase has the distinction of not only being the largest base, area wise, in Pakistan but also in Asia. Before Karachi Airport, this airport had been used for domestic flights and also by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. It is of immense strategic importance considering it has been entrusted upon the task of defending the coastal and Southern region of Pakistan. It houses the 32 Tactical Attack (TA) Wing which comprises six separate squadrons. squadrons include No 2 MR squadron operating JF-17 Block 2s, No 4 AWACS Squadron operating Karakoram Eagle AWACS, No 7 TA Squadron operating Mirage 3 ROSE 1, No 8 TA Squadron operating Mirage 5PA2/3, No 22 OCU operating Mirage 3EL/D and No 84 CSS operating AW-139 Seahawk CSAR helicopters. Base is also home to College of Aviation safety management and Tactical Air Support school (TASS).[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Shazia Hasan (7 September 2018). "Defence Day celebrated in city with great zeal". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  2. ^ PAF inaugurates new operational air base at Bholari near Karachi
  3. ^ Khawaja Asif lays foundation stone of PAF Bholari base in Jamshoro
  4. ^ a b c Qadri, Azam (2014). Sentinels in the Sky: A Saga of PAF's Gallant Air Warriors. PAF Book Club.
  5. ^ SANDSCRIPT, The Journal of the RAF Mauripur Association.[page needed]
  6. ^ SANDSCRIPT, The Journal of the RAF Mauripur Association.[page needed]
  7. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 28.
  8. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 30.
  9. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 34.
  10. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 38.
  11. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 47.
  12. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 51.
  13. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 60.
  14. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 83.
  15. ^ Jefford 2001, p. 86.
  16. ^ Hewish et al. 1984, p. 195.
  17. ^ Pakistan Air Force Bases (list includes PAF Base Masroor) nuke.fas.org website, Retrieved 4 October 2021
  • Hewish, Mark; Sweetman, Bill; Wheeler, Barry C.; Gunston, Bill (1984). Air Forces of the World (2 ed.). London, UK: Peerage Books. ISBN 978-0907408932.
  • Jefford, C. G. (2001). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • SANDSCRIPT, The Journal of the RAF Mauripur Association. RAF Mauripur Association. 1996–2014.
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