In the 1920s, Mafraq was used as a location for armoured cars of the RAF. New buildings and a concrete runway were built in an expansion that took place in 1951. It was used as a
Royal Air Force station known as RAF Mafraq. The airfield had air firing ranges and was operational by 16 UE aircraft. It became an asset of the Jordanian government on 31 May 1957 when RAF Mafraq was evacuated, and sat unused for a year. It was renamed King Hussein Air Base in June 1959, with
No.1 Fighter Squadron (
Hawker Hunters) and later No.2 Squadron (
de Havilland Vampires) of the
Royal Jordanian Air Force moving from Amman. In the 1920s, Mafraq was used as a base for aircraft and armored cars of the RAF. By 1931, Mafraq, which is situated on a large, flat desert expand from the Syrian border, was used as the major staging and refueling post for international flights and for the transfer of air supplies, personnel, freight and mail. The base was used the following RAF squadrons: • Detachment from
No. 6 Squadron RAF between October 1954 and September 1955 with the
de Havilland Venom FB.1/4 • Detachment from
No. 14 Squadron RAF between February 1920 and June 1924 with the
Bristol F.2 Fighter •
No. 32 Squadron RAF between 29 October 1956 and 11 January 1957 with the Venom FB.1 •
No. 249 Squadron RAF between 16 and April 1951 with the Vampire FB.5 In 1951, the station was being rapidly developed with new buildings and a concrete runway. RAF Mafraq was evacuated and handed over to the Jordanian Government on May 31, 1957. The base stayed unused until 1958 when the RJAF took over and it was named King Hussein Air Base in June 1959 with 1st Fighter Squadron (Hunters) and later 2nd Squadron (Vampires) moving there from Amman. One of the hangars, some aircraft, and a runway were destroyed in the
Six-Day War (1967). ==Current use==