Fairfield Group Captain Commanding (1 results)

Soft cover. Condition: Very Good. Original black printed cream card wraps with RAF emblem 12x14cm. 11pp printed to the rectos, with the Group Captain Commanding's opening statement inside the front wrap. Very good, marked with rust residue from the staples, and some contemporary ms edits to procedures and prices within. The Group Captain's statement has apparently been ms signed and dated in blue ink: "V. Fairfield / 17 May 48" (an entry in the London Gazette suggests this was Victor Fairfield). This copy dates shortly after signing the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty (15 Jan 1948), which committed to joint British-Iraqi military planning, and continued British control of foreign affairs. RAF Station Shaibah was formed a few miles SW of Basrah in 1920. It came under Air HQ Iraq and Persia. It was significantly expanded during WW2 to support RAF Habbaniya, and after WW2 helped in the evacuation of Anglo-Iranian Oil Company personnel from Abadan during the nationalisation (1951-53). A memoir dating to 1954 states that "Shaibah had a bad reputation in the RAF as one of the worst overseas postings. Many are the songs 'Shaibah Blues' sung in the home messes, especially by old sweats who had served there in the inter-war years. I contracted some uncomfortable infections whilst there. I think it was from the swimming pool. This required me to do my work in the more comfortable air-conditioned Officers Mess. It was a relief to return to Mauripur". This location specific booklet was intended to be read alongside the KR (Kings Regulations), ACI (Air Council Instructions), and the "Standard Rules for Royal Air Force Officers' Messes". Its sections cover membership, guests, the ladies' room, warning in and out, calls, dress, meal service, dinner, duties of the President and Vice-President, smoking, liquor, orders on the Mess, subscriptions contributions and charges, prices of wines tobacco etc, billiards, cards, newspapers periodicals books, members accounts, hours of closing, Mess staff, notices, furniture property etc, animals, discipline, Mess invitations, Mess meetings and propositions, Mess management, and duties of the PMC (President of Mess Committee) who is answerable to the Station Commander. (References: Squadron Leader T.J. Page, "My Service Career in the Royal Air Force 1940/1968", 49 Squadron Association, pp24-25; Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 Jan 1946, p34).