Miranshah Airfield

In 1905, the British constructed Miranshah Fort to control North Waziristan. It was built using sun-dried mud bricks, and was occupied by the Tochi Scouts. Through the years, the fort faced tribal raids. However, in 1919, the 3rd Afghan War led to the Afghans raiding Waziristan, and tribes rose up. Following this, over 10,000 troops of Indian Army were deployed to re-establish British control. Five Royal Air Force squadrons begun strafing and bombing attacks on the tribes, operating mainly Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2C, Bristol F.2B Fighter, de Havilland DH.9, and other DH bombers. 1,300 men were killed, and the bombings led to the conflict ending. Establishment Following this success, in November 1923, the British government made Miranshah a Royal Air Force Base, using the existing fort to house RAF personnel. By 1925, the North side of the fort was constructed along with a runway to carry out operations in Waziristan. Technical buildings were installed to accommodate and maintain the equipment of two squadrons. The buildings included hangars, store-rooms, workshops, offices, and tents to house personnel. By 1925, Miranshah was used by the RAF to conduct air operations against tribesmen, known as the Pink's War. Ever since, the RAF maintained a flight at Miranshah for operations in the Northwest frontier. However, by 1937, flights were exclusively undertaken by Squadrons 5, 20, 28, 31, and 60. These squadrons remained for two months on a rotational basis. Between 1936-37, the 113th Pack Battery and the 13th (Dardoni) Mountain Battery of the 25th Indian Mountain Regiment was stationed at the camp during the North West Frontier campaign. Counter-Insurgency Operations In 1950, the Pakistan Air Force and the Tochi Scouts of Pakistan's paramilitary Frontier Corps carried counter-insurgency operations in the airfield. PAF No. 14 Fighter-bomber Squadron was stationed at the airfield, tasked to contain the insurgency in the tribal areas of North Waziristan. There was a weapons firing range for the PAF, located next to the airfield. By 1958, Miranshah Airfield was used by Hawker Fury Fighter Aircraft, and was able to accommodate approximately 10,000 gallons of jet fuel. The airfield consisted of 8 hangars, two concrete/macadam runways, accommodations for 100 personnel, and received Category "A" maintenance by the PAF. During the Cold War, there were three reported incidents of defecting aircraft landing at Miranshah. On 22 September, 1984, a defecting Antonov An-26 of 373rd Transport Aviation Regiment, Democratic Republic of Afghanistan Air Force (DRAAF) piloted by Col. Haji Fakir landed at Miranshah Airfield. On 28 June, 1985, two defecting Afghan Mil Mi-24 helicopters of 377th Independent Helicopter Regiment, DRAAF piloted by Mohammad Ishak and Mohammad Omar landed at Miranshah Airfield. The last incident, on 8 December, 1988, Captain Asadullah flying a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 of 322nd Fighter Aviation Regiment, DRAAF defected from Afghanistan to the airfield. On 30 March, 1987, a PAF General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon shot down an intruding Afghan An-26 near Miranshah. == Units ==