RAF Habilayn (RAF Thumier)

RAF Habilayn, originally constructed as RAF Thumier, was located in Al Habilayn, Radfan district, Yemen. The Royal Engineers established the base in January 1964. It operated as a forward base during the Radfan Campaign of the Aden Emergency to supply British troops in Area West and the Yemen border. By 1966, the facility was renamed RAF Habilayn. The Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps (AAC) operated the station until it was abandoned in 1967.

The No. II Squadron RAF Regiment supplied and defended the installation. The 45 Commando, Royal Marines secured access roads and provided medical staff until their withdrawal in June 1967.

Initial construction featured an airstrip and a fuel storage dump. In 1964, the airstrip was extended to accommodate Blackburn Beverley transports and helicopters. Infrastructure included a hard-surfaced strip, with PSP metal sheeting laid on the apron for helicopter parking and revetted cargo loading areas. Facilities included a communications mast and a communications tent manned 24 hours a day. An RAF Crash Crew detachment maintained rescue services. A permanent army camp on the site featured tented encampments protected by three-foot stone walls. It accommodated a battalion-sized joint Army/RAF force of approximately 600 personnel. In 1966, the 523 Specialist Team and a section from the 20 Field Squadron expanded this camp alongside a civilian contractor.

The base supported fixed-wing aircraft, including the Vickers Valetta, Douglas DC-3, and Blackburn Beverley. Rotary-wing and short takeoff and landing operations utilized Westland Wessex helicopters, Bristol Belvederes, Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneers, Bell Sioux AH.1 observation helicopters, armed Scout helicopters, and de Havilland Canada Beaver AL.1s.

During its operational period, No. 78 Squadron RAF Twin Pioneers and AAC Beavers flew daily Aircraft Delivery Service flights from Aden, transporting mail, personnel, and spare parts. No. 84 Squadron RAF Beverleys delivered heavy equipment, while bulk stores arrived via armed Army truck convoys. The AAC maintained a permanent detachment of an armed Scout helicopter and multiple Sioux helicopters at the facility. During the Radfan Campaign, 815 Naval Air Squadron and No. 78 Squadron RAF Wessex helicopters operated from the airfield to fly re-supply sorties to forward positions in the Radfan hills.