An expanded Brigade group called Habforce had during the Anglo-Iraqi war advanced across the desert from Trans-Jordan to relieve the British garrison at RAF Habbaniya on the Euphrates River and had then assisted in the taking of Baghdad.
They are of former RAF Hospitals overseas; Changi Close, Habbanya Rise (RAF Habbaniya misspelt), Rostrop Road, Steamer Point Road, Fayid Lane, Hinidi Lane (RAF Hinaidi misspelt), Khormaksar Drive, Wegberg Road & Akrotiri Square.
RAF Bomber Command | RAF Sculthorpe | RAF Northolt | RAF Coastal Command | No. 33 Squadron RAF | No. 263 Squadron RAF | RAF Ringway | RAF Lakenheath | RAF Brize Norton | RAF Leuchars | RAF Mount Pleasant | RAF Mildenhall | RAF Greenham Common | RAF Fighter Command | No. 45 Squadron RAF | No. 127 Squadron RAF | RAF Wyton | RAF Welford | RAF Valley | RAF Tangmere | RAF Search and Rescue Force | RAF Molesworth | RAF Lossiemouth | RAF Leeming | RAF Honington | RAF Coningsby | RAF Alconbury | No. 617 Squadron RAF | No. 43 Squadron RAF | No. 38 Squadron RAF |
From 6 May 1941 the 4th Cavalry Brigade, together with a battalion of infantry from the Essex Regiment, a mechanised regiment from the Arab Legion and supporting artillery was organised as Habforce for operations in Iraq including the relief of the base at RAF Habbaniya and the occupation of Baghdad.
Using specially modified and unmarked Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra aircraft painted in a special blue camouflage scheme developed by Cotton himself (who led the RAF's Photographic Development Unit or PDU), the Secret Intelligence Service launched the high-altitude reconnaissance flights from RAF Habbaniya, a Royal Air Force station in Iraq.