Cairo Payne Field
Airfield Identification
WWII to present
Egypt
CITY: Cairo
IATA/ICAO CODES: CAI / HECA
COORDINATES: 30°07'N / 31°24'E
OTHER NAMES: Payne Field (WWII), Cairo International (present)
Commando Operations
During World War II, the USAAF built Payne Field to serve the Allied Forces, rather than take over the existing Almaza Airport located 5km away. Payne Field was a major Air Transport Command air cargo and passenger hub, linking the North African Wing, Central African Wing and Middle East Wing routes. It also housed the headquarters of the latter. After the war, many Commandos left behind in Africa were stored then condemned for salvage at Payne Field.
Units & operators based
1264th AAF Base Unit (Payne Field)
Air Transport Command Middle East Wing headquarters & Station 7 (June 1943 - 1 July 1944)
Last edited: 25/08/2022