PAF Base Masroor is the largest airbase operated by the Pakistan Air Force. It is located in the Mauripur area of Karachi, in the Sindh province. The base was originally known as RIAF Base Mauripur (1940-47), RPAF Station Mauripur**** (1947-56), and after 23 March 1956, as PAF Station Mauripur. PAF Base Faisal and PAF Base Bholari are the other Pakistan Air Force bases in Karachi.

History

The airbase at Mauripur was established by the RIAF during World War II in 1942 as a transit airfield allowing RAF Drigh Road to concentrate on maintenance. Huge numbers of aircraft staged through Mauripur during and after the end of World War II. British units continued to use the airfield after the creation of Pakistan in 1947, finally leaving in 1956. The RAF airfields at Gan and Masirah took over RAF Far East Air Force staging duties from Mauripur and Habbaniya (which became unavailable from 14 July 1958 after the revolution in Iraq).

Historic units and aircraft

Post-partition era

After the Partition of British India, the base became RPAF Station Mauripur. On 24 May 1968, PAF Station Mauripur was renamed to PAF Station Masroor in honor of base commander Masroor Hosain. On 1 July 1970, Pakistan Air Force stations were renamed to bases.

Features

Masroor airbase has the distinction of not only being the largest base, area wise, in Pakistan but also in Asia. Before Karachi Airport, this airport had been used for domestic flights and also by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. It is of immense strategic importance considering it has been entrusted upon the task of defending the coastal and Southern region of Pakistan. It houses the 32 Tactical Attack (TA) Wing which comprises six separate squadrons. squadrons include No 2 MR squadron operating JF-17C Block 2s, No 4 AWACS Squadron operating Karakoram Eagle AWACS, No 7 TA Squadron operating Mirage 3 ROSE 1, No 8 TA Squadron operating Mirage 5PA2/3, No 22 OCU operating Mirage 3EL/D and No 84 CSS operating AW-139 Seahawk CSAR helicopters. Base is also home to College of Aviation safety management and Tactical Air Support school (TASS).