RAF El Amiriya

Military obsolescence and geopolitical change. The airfield was a forward landing ground built specifically for the North African Campaign of WWII. With the Allied victory and the end of the war, the strategic need for the base vanished. The subsequent withdrawal of British forces from Egypt over the following decade sealed its fate, and it was left to be reclaimed by the desert.

The site is completely abandoned and exists as an archaeological remnant in the open desert. High-resolution satellite imagery of the coordinates clearly shows the faint but discernible outlines of the former triangular runway layout and associated taxiways, heavily eroded by decades of wind and sand. There are no remaining buildings, hangars, or any other infrastructure on the site. The area is barren and crossed by several informal desert tracks.

RAF El Amiriya, also known as Landing Ground 174 (LG-174), was a crucial Royal Air Force (RAF) station during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II. Its location southwest of Alexandria made it a vital forward base for British, Commonwealth, and other Allied air forces. The airfield played a significant role during the pivotal First and Second Battles of El Alamein in 1942. It hosted numerous fighter, fighter-bomber, and reconnaissance squadrons that were instrumental in achieving air superiority over the Axis forces. Operations from Amiriya included providing close air support for the 8th Army, intercepting Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica aircraft, and conducting offensive sweeps against enemy armor, positions, and supply lines. Squadrons operating aircraft like the Hawker Hurricane, Supermarine Spitfire, Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk, and Bristol Beaufighter were based here at various times, making it a key component of the Allied victory in North Africa.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening RAF El Amiriya. The site is a historical relic with no viable infrastructure. Its purpose was entirely military and specific to a conflict that ended over 75 years ago. It is not considered for any future aviation development.