base for aircraft and armored cars of the RAF. By 1931, Mafraq, which is situated on a large, flat desert expand from the Syrian border, was used as the major staging and refueling post for international flights and for the transfer of air supplies, personnel, freight and mail. In 1951, the station was being rapidly developed with new buildings and a concrete runway. RAF Mafraq was evacuated and handed over to the Jordanian Government on May 31, 1957. The base stayed unused until 1958 when the RJAF took over and it was named King Hussein Air Base in June 1959 with 1st Fighter Squadron (Hunters) and later 2nd Squadron (Vampires) moving there from Amman. Flying training started in 1960 with the 4th Squadron equipped with Chipmunks, but was later disbanded. The base was attacked in the 1967 War with aircraft, runway and one of the hangars destroyed. It was then temporarily repaired but not used on a regular basis as the pilots were stationed in Iraq until 1968. In 1969, it was decided to complete the renovation so the Hunter squadron redeployed to Amman and then to Syria. Full local pilot training started at the base in 1974 and the first graduation was in 1975. In 1978, it was named King Hussein Air College, housing the Flying School with 2nd, 4th, 5th and 11th Squadrons, the Junior Command and Staff School, which was formed in 1979, and the Air Command and Staff College, formed in 1990 and later disbanded. The first class of female cadets graduated in 2020. References External links King Hussein Air Base - Jordan Airport Global Website Mafraq Governorate Airports in Jordan