Coll 5/85 ‘Airfield at Dharan for U.S.A.A.F.: Proposal to construct new airport at Bahrain (Hamala)’ [‎77r] (154/522)

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\-" F STAIESMAH - 27TH MOVaMa^u 1946 . i ||
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U. S. A. OUTPOST IH KIDDLE SAST.
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The U. S. Army has now developed the enormous airport
at Dhahran on the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. coast of Saudi Arabia into its
most important air base in the sprawling area of the Middle East.
As Payne Field, Cairo, is being turned over to the
Egyptian Government under the contractual terms for its sale,^
American Army officers and men, as well as considerable supplies,
will be moved here within the next three weeks. The material
includes quartermaster's and maintenance supplies as well as,
probably a few aircraft. All will be placed at the disposal of
the Dhahran Commandant, Lt. Col. Emery Ward of Salina, Oklahoma,
who heads the U. S. A. Air Transport installation here.
Dhahran airport has two landing strips with an asphalt
surface. The field is already large enough to handle B-29s or,
indeed, any aircraft still in the drawing-board stage. It could
be extended indefinitely over the flat sandlands of the vicinity.
In a few weeks, the airport will be the only base under direct
U. S. Army control between Tripoli, Libya and Karachi. Under
contract with the Egyptian Government, landing rights at Payne
Field are being continued, according to Lt. Col. Ward, and half-
a-dozen U. S. Army Personnel are being left there for the present.
Within the next^Tew days, Lt. Col. Ward expects the
arrival of the complement of 6 officers, 5 men, 32 American
civilians, 135 Italians (brought up from Eritrea) and 135 Arabs.
Already Dhahran airfield handles weather forecasts for
the regions between Karachi, Cairo, Asmara and Teheran and its^
control area of 16,000 square miles is the largest single station
control area in the world. Dhahran is under the direct command
of Paris HQ, Air Transport Command, European theatre.
As the airbase is now set up, it could at almost immediate
notice handle 600 American officers and men or Sne Heavy Bombard
ment Group. Under the terms of the U. S. Government contract
with the Saudi Arabian Government, it is understood that any type
of civilian or military aircraft can be based here. The airfield
was developed during the war in order to facilitate the campaign
against Japan. Rights were granted by King Ibn Baud in order to
help the USA in its Eastern war effort and also to develop an
important airport in his country. Eventually, the base will be
handed over to Saudi Arabia. However, the present contract lasts
until February 19, 1949, and contains a clause guaranteeing
future preferred rights. No rental is paid by the USA but
landing fees based on the size of planes will be charged to
private companies' aircraft.
The installation is'already complete. Clustered about
the HQ building, above which the Stars and Stripes flies side
by side with the green banners of Saudi Arabia, are grouped
houses and huts, including not only living quarters and offices
but a Post Exchange, laundry service, movie house, American
Consulate masses and a large terminal building, all of which
are air-cooled by a special plant. All officers and men,
except the commanding officer are sent to Dhahran for a six-
months' assignment after which they can be transferred, if so
desired.
Nov/ that World War II is over, this base is primarily
of value to international commercial transport. However, its
potential strategic ....