Airfield and aircraft identification(Mesopotamia 1917)

and yet more photos showing the parade and the staff car

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And a couple more………[ATTACH=CONFIG]230792[/ATTACH]

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Thanks for this info ..We seem to be getting there I will see if there are any other pics worth copying and posting. Meanwhile here are a couple more from the same page in the album[ATTACH=CONFIG]230786[/ATTACH]
and [ATTACH=CONFIG]230787[/ATTACH]

Looks like 4403 in the pic with the lady,and a mighty fine fox fur…

In the second photo in post #9, I could easily convince myself that the nearest BE.2 is 4362, which JDR Rawlings ‘Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and Their Aircraft’ tells me did serve with 30 Sqn. With a bit more effort, I could make the second in line look line 4322, which the same source tells me was also with 30. I wouldn’t regard that as conclusive proof, but it does seem to be pointing in the direction you suggest. It looks like quite a substantial place, with most if not all of the squadron gathered together, rather than some outpost with a detachment. According to Rawlings’ book, early in 1916, 30 Sqn’s main base was Basra, then moving to Sheik Saad (which I believe is now Kuwait International Airport).

And more from the album…….[ATTACH=CONFIG]230782[/ATTACH]
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I am now wondering if these photos were taken in Egypt prior to his posting to Mesopotamia ? could this be 30sqn in early 1916 ?

And here are some more….[ATTACH=CONFIG]230738[/ATTACH]

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It must be.. as the other photos in the album all show what appears to be a visit by VIPs to this airfield and it is definitely the one shown in the aerial shots, also the officers are all dressed in their finest uniforms including solar topees. One of those officers is my great grandfather…it might even be him seated with the lady in furs.

Thanks for posting these, there’s some super little snapshots of the RFC here. I particularly like the officer sat chatting to the elegantly-dressed lady. She’s wearing all manner of furs-surely this one isn’t taken in the Middle East?!

And more photos from that time; [ATTACH=CONFIG]230709[/ATTACH]
and; [ATTACH=CONFIG]230710[/ATTACH]

And there are more photos of the airfield here[ATTACH=CONFIG]230707[/ATTACH] and here;
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Hi Adrian, Thanks for your info….I am not sure the airfield is in Mesopotamia now having checked grandfathers records he was in Egypt in 1916 in 30 squadron but moved to 19 squadron in January that year then on to 52 squadron in may and 48 squadron in november followed by 58 ssquadron and 57 squadron in december. then on to 63 squadron in november 1917. He was in Mesopotamia in 1918 and 1919 as he was mentioned in despatches there twice and he was awarded the CMG in 1919 when he retired. I have more photos to post so will do so [ATTACH=CONFIG]230706[/ATTACH]later…

Those appear to be Voisins. Rather tentatively, then, that would possibly be 30 Sqn RFC, with a mixture of BE.2s and Voisins. The problem is that they got rid of their Voisins in October 1916. Appropriately for the area, they also led a rather nomadic existence, with many detachments. I can’t identify the field, but ifit is 30 Sqn around October 1916 it should be one of: Sheik Saad, Nasriyah, or perhaps Arab Village.

Edit: Perhaps instead of ‘got rid of’, I should have said ‘officially stopped using’ the Voisin. The Squadrons in the middle east used what they could at that time.