[Two adjoining RAF pilot's maps] Asia 1:2,000,000 (Arabia) Sheets S.E. Arabia Layered (M.D.R. 538 / 6215) AND Gulf of Aden (M.D.R. 538 / 6216) Not to be Published

Two adjoining colour printed paper sheets from the Asia 1/2M (Arabia) series: Sheet S.E. Arabia Layered 80x63cm, and Sheet Gulf of Aden (sitting off-centre below) 80x46cm. Both good, neatly folded with short closed tears, dusting and marks, and flight-related ms annotations. They were reproduced by 512 Forward Survey Company in February and March 1943 respectively, from Survey of India first editions 1934 and 1935. The former is layered with air information for March 1943 from HQ RAF Middle East, the latter with revised communications. Their issue coincides with major reorganisation of Allied air forces in the North African and Mediterranean Theater in February 1943. This made HQ British Forces Aden a sub-command of RAF Middle East Command primarily responsible for anti-submarine operations and escort missions. Centred on the Rub al Khali, the SE Arabia sheet is bounded by the Dahana Sands (NW), Muscat and Ras al Hadd (NE), and the Oman coast as far as Haifif in the Hadhramaut (S). The Gulf of Aden sheet continues along the Aden Protectorate and Yemen coasts to the Red Sea port of Luhaiya (thus including major locations including Masirah Island, Mukalla, Aden, Hodeida, Sana'a etc), with Socotra (SE). Altitudes are shown by colour tints with approximate contours and spot heights. Features include settlements, a web of mainly pack animal tracks, wadis, descriptive notes about terrain in the image, with a large area in the Rub al Khali bounded by Qaamiyat and Awamir labelled "Unexplored desert". Communications include steamer services with destinations and distances and submarine cables especially off the coasts at Aden and Hodeida highlighting the strategic importance of the Bab el Mandeb Strait, and Muscat. RAF data includes airfields, landing grounds, airfields whose local position or existence is not confirmed, landing grounds not regularly visited or unconfirmed, airfields and landing grounds abandoned etc. The annotations include a flight line connecting Aden (RAF Khormaksar) to Masirah Island, which largely follows the coast via Ras Quseir, Mukalla, Quishn, Salalah, Murbat etc with additional points written on. During WW2 RAF Khormaksar played a key role in the East African Campaign, and as a USAAF stopover. The RAF established a permanent detachment on Masirah Island in 1942, building a major base in 1943 to serve as remote refuelling point, staging post on the Aden to India route, and base for anti-submarine patrols. RAF Mirbat and RAF Salalah on the Dhofar coast were early bases established by the RAF to exert control over the Peninsula, the latter providing a staging post during WW2. The annotated route bypasses Khor Gharim, which with Bayt al Falaj and Ras Al-Hadd offered emergency landing grounds. (Reference: RAF Museum website).…