Royal Air Force Gan, commonly known as RAF Gan, is a former Royal Air Force station on Gan island, the southern-most island of Addu Atoll, which is part of the larger groups of islands which form the Maldives, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Its motto is En Route, which signifies its importance as a strategic staging post for enabling RAF aircraft to reach their onward destinations at their bases in the Far East.

Following the departure of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1976, the former RAF Gan airfield was developed into a civilian airport, and is now known as Gan International Airport.

History

The area was originally established as a military base for the Royal Navy (RN) in . In response to the threat posed by the Japanese advance, the Admiralty devised a plan for the relocation of the Eastern Fleet to a secure fallback harbor. Addu fulfilled the criteria. Work commenced in 1941 to covertly establish a fleet anchorage and base referred to as Port 'T'.

thumb|left|Map of Addu Atoll, Maldives, in the Indian Ocean

An airfield was projected to be operational by mid-May 1942, with the Island of Gan selected as the site. Royal Marines engineers began constructing airstrips on Gan island from crushed coral in August 1941 for the Fleet Air Arm (FAA). The inhabitants of Gan and the neighbouring island of Feydhoo were relocated to the Maamendhoo region of Hithadhoo.

Port 'T' was adequately prepared to commence operations by January 1942. On 22 February 1942, reached Addu Atoll and all personnel assigned to the facilities on the Atoll were now on her accounts. Consequently, the significance of Addu Atoll began to diminish. Additionally, the naval air station became unnecessary, leading to the suspension of construction activities in January 1944. However, on 1 February, the entire Addu Atoll naval facility was officially commissioned as HMS Maraga.

The base was used by No. 1125 Marine Craft Unit between 1 May 1970 and 29 March 1976.

RAF Gan today

Following the handover back to the Maldivian Government, the island was left to fall into disrepair for many years, but as funds allowed the airfield was subtly developed into a civil airport now known as Gan International Airport. Most of the base is now a tourist resort called Equator Village: the former military buildings remain and have been converted into rooms and other facilities on the resort. The former military hospital is now a dive centre.

See also

  • RAF Hithadhoo – communications site for RAF Gan<!--http://RafGan.airforce/00%20-%20RAF%20Stations/Away/RAF%20-%20H.htm-->
  • List of former Royal Air Force stations

References

Citations

Bibliography

  • Royal Air Force Gan - Remembered
  • An aircraft crash that 'never happened', by John Cooper
  • Gan Island is completely different!
  • RAF Gan - The Far East Air Force
  • Equator Village, Addu Atoll