British Forces

Unloading the Arab Legion

Imperial War Museum

Vickers Valentia of No. 216 Squadron RAF based at Heliopolis, Egypt, at the landing ground at H4 pumping station on the Iraq Petroleum Company pipeline in Transjordan. Arab Legionnaires stand guard as personnel and supplies are unloaded at H4, which had become the RAF Advanced Headquarters for operations against the rebels in Iraq, 1941. This old-fashioned plane is one of many planes unfairly eclipsed by most famous aircraft of the WW2. Clearly designed for duties on the British Empire as bomber and transport, the Valentia first entered service with No. 70 Squadron RAF at Hinaidi, Iraq in 1934, equipping British forces in India, Persia and Iraq. Immediately before and also during the war the Valentias were extensively used for transport operations (when necessary or night bombing missions in 1940) and remained in service with the Iraq and Persia Communications Flight until 1944. Victor Sierra