{"product_id":"raf-boys-in-the-middle-east","title":"RAF BOYS IN THE MIDDLE EAST","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eTRUE STORIES OF THE RAF AIRCREW AND GROUNDCREW \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eEAST OF SUEZ 1918-1977\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eThe area of responsibility for the RAF in the Middle East was \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003evast, encompassing the whole of Arabia plus large parts of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eEast Africa. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eThe operational challenges were substantial, not least \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003ethe frequent need to operate in and out of remote and minimally \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eprepared desert landing grounds in areas sparsely populated by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eoften less than friendly inhabitants. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eAdd to the mix the Second \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eWorld War, tribal uprisings and squabbles between neighbouring \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003ecountries, and the RAF certainly had its work cut out.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eThe RFC had a presence in the Middle East from 1914 with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eoperational responsibility for Egypt, the Sudan and Kenya, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eadministrative responsibility for Palestine, Transjordan, Iraq and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eAden, tasks carried on by the RAF from 1918. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eThe critical wartime\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003ecampaigns in Egypt and Libya came under RAF Middle East, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eMiddle East Command was absorbed into RAF Mediterranean and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eMiddle East in 1945. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eMiddle East Air Force (MEAF) was formed on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003e1 June 1949 and on 1 March 1961 it was renamed Near East Air \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eForce (NEAF). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eAt the same time Air Forces Middle East (AFME) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003ewas formed at Steamer Point Aden, being disbanded in 1967. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eTo \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003esupport the dwindling RAF presence in the region HQ Air Forces \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eGulf at Muharraq Bahrain came into being in September 1967, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003edisbanding on 15 December 1971 following the final withdrawal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003efrom Aden. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eRAF Boys in the Middle East \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003ewill present the reader with a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003evaried collection of stories from those who were there, supported \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eby explanatory text and original black and white and colour \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003ephotographs. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eThe recollections of over 40 air and groundcrew, with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003esome going back to pre-war years, cover a good number of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003emany locations, aircraft types and units which served throughout \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003ethe Middle East. A step back in time to honour those veterans.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Key Publishing Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57755844706687,"sku":"B722","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0081\/2344\/9395\/files\/ShopProducts_100x100px_100x100px_10.png?v=1781706866","url":"https:\/\/shop.keypublishing.com\/products\/raf-boys-in-the-middle-east","provider":"Key Publishing Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}