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Maps A selection of maps of the Middle East theatre, of World War II or earlier date.
From Malta to the head of the Persian Gulf (more or less the East-West extent of this sketch map) it is close to 2,000 statute miles. From Alexandria, the border with Libya lies some 300 miles West, Malta over 900 miles to the West, Athens about 600 miles North. Well off this map, Port Sudan on the Red Sea lies about 900 miles South. Gibraltar, great gateway to the Mediterranean, is over 2,000 miles to the West of Alexandria and again, well off the map—and from there Liverpool in the United Kingdom is still 1,500 miles away by sea.
Part of a Palestine map showing the airfields at Lydda, Ramleh and Kolundia marked by propeller symbols, with added highlights for places associated with 211 Squadron in 1938 and 1941. The grid squares are at 10km intervals so the area shown is about 37 miles from East to West. Aquir is to the South of Ramleh. Kolundia, Jerusalem airport today, lies 10 miles to the North of Jerusalem on the Ramallah road. Ain Karim is 5 miles outside Jerusalem. Off-map far to the North, Semakh lies on the southern shore of Lake Tiberias (the Sea of Galilee).
Part of a captured German map of January 1942 issue, showing the Western Desert coast road, the railway, and other features like the dune country to the North-East of the village of El Daba. The areas with birdlike symbols indicate landing grounds. Spot heights are shown in metres. Again the grid squares are at 10km intervals, making this section of map some 30 miles wide from East to West. The added highlights show El Daba, Quotaifiyah and the landing grounds used by 211 Squadron.
Greece during the BAFG period of operations from 1940 to 1941 from the RAF Narrative—Middle East Campaigns Volume VI: The campaign in Greece 1940—1941 AHB 1946 (TNA AIR 41/28 48457). The northern border with Albania is correctly shown in its post-1913 Treaty of Bucharest position. Airfields associated with 211 Squadron operations are highlighted. The proximity of Menidi (“airfield”) and Tatoi (“town”) on this map may have resulted in the occasionally reported notion of two airfields there. Curiously, the map scale as labelled with single mile intervals is patently incorrect: apparently 10 mile intervals were intended.
Part of a German wartime map of Northern Greece, here about 40 miles in width, showing Paramythia and Yannina. To the North, the Greece-Albania border, highlighted, is again in precise agreement with earlier (post-1913) maps, with British theatre maps of 1943 date and with the RAF Air Historical Branch map above. Paramythia lies about 20 miles South from that border.
Part of a World War I British map of southern Greece. The Summer palace of the Greek Royal family at Tatoi nestled in the slopes of Mt Parnes (modern Parnitha) is highlighted, on the upper margin of the map. The village of Menidi (with its own railway station) is also highlighted, as is the Tatoi railway station. With a grid interval of 5 minutes of longitude or latitude respectively, this part of the map is about 7 miles by 7 miles in extent. The civil airfield was to be developed immediately to the North-West of Tatoi railway station and the road (as highlighted). By 1938, Tatoi was already the principal Athens airport and military flying establishment. Even so, in 1940 the proximity of the Royal palace gave rise to some local confusion and for RAF and Greek administration purposes the RAF thereafter referred to it as Menidi (Tatoi). Athens is 10 miles to the south but today the suburbs stretch all the way to Kiphissia and beyond. The country here suffered grievously in the great forest fires of 2007.
www.211squadron.org © DR Clark & others 1998—2007 |
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