If that photo is N to the top the sea/lake is to the west - so in the Middle East we're looking at the east side of the land - Suez, Gulf of Aqaba, Saudi , Yemen on the Red Sea , Oman/UAE and Iran on the Gulf side

Factor in the mountains right down to the coast and the fact it has or has had A320's and we're looking at a limited range of place.

I suspect it's near the top of the Red Sea but I can't see anywhere that fits

Good morning, and keep looking. 'Top' does not have a corollary in 'Bottom,' whatever Moses may have achieved. Certainly looking along the right lines, but not much dog-legging involved so far.

Political instability may be invoked. as might recent activity elsewhere in the greater parish to which we subscribe.

The B/W photograph is WW2; a Royal Air Force field, the photo attributed, by a Dutch Interweb site, to the Royal Navy.

Long dog legs... normally associated with some political /military areas - so we might be looking at the resumption of flights between the Arab world and Israel.

The initial flights were an Israeli 737 and a UAE 767 so not them

I'm gravitating towards Eilat - which has much changed in the last 40 + years...........

One part of the dog-legging correct, but I fear Eilat incorrect. WW2 RAF interest was coastal and maritime recce, almost GR perhaps. New airport built 1999-ish with hopes for tourism and maybe a strategic purpose as well.

Usual visitations through the centuries. Portuguese, of course, East India Company, Italy, Great Britain, and I believe the Soviet Navy found it useful. Probably only two of those had any aviation interest. I gather USAAC ferry routes in WW2 may have been relevant.

Aden, RAF Khormaksar?

Not Khormaksar, but getting a touch closer.

Remember, North at top of photo.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c6edcd9df9.png
Is it Djibouti?

No, but correct dog-leg.

I'll try an uncertain stab at Hodeida (Al Hudaydah now, evidently).....

No, regret that is incorrect. Remember, this as seen in photo was once a Royal Air Force airfield, of sorts.

I find that this was not part of the Aden Protectorate, but had closer links than did Hodeida which had none. My little sister, now in the Land of the Long White Cloud, would pass a finger across her throat at the mention of Yemen during her time in Aden 65 years ago.

Socotra airport?

Yes, Socotra in its original state as RAF Ras Karma. WW2 use by Blenheims from Aden is well documented, with a photograph elsewhere showing a bare Wellington frame. Use in 1960's indicates Valetta aircraft from 233 in Aden. GE shows the current state. My time spent on Masirah has, maybe, given me an impression of life on Socotra many years ago.

I am off-net for some time now, so have to accept the correct answer despite the 24 hour stipulation.

It's gonna have to be Open House I'm afraid.

Now that was a challenge and half - I kept looking at Socotra but never realised the RAF had ever had a base there - I think we had the modern airfield last year?

Here's another - quite an old airfield and still in use

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8067ea3735.jpg

Fokker F.VII PK-AFF at Medan, Sumatra
Open House if correct, please.

Teus
PM send

Yes - it's the old Polonia Airport in Medan - replaced by the new out of town airport in 2013 but still open as Soewondo Air Force Base operating marine recce I think. The original name refers to the land which was orinianlly owned by a Polish Baron. Teusje has the controls

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4903d97451.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....74bcaca9aa.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....044e6a3c76.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....db71b3a049.jpg