Operation desert softball: How Sharjah's US base helped the Second World War effort

A former air station in Sharjah played a crucial role during the Second World War – bringing a slice of American culture to the desert.

It is a little-known chapter of history but a US presence there from 1944 to 1945 allowed the Allies to ramp up resupply efforts as the war turned east.

American troops built a home at the desert outpost – playing games, celebrating Christmas and even venturing to the souq.

The episode in the emirate's history was in the spotlight on Wednesday at Sharjah Art Foundation’s new photographic gallery in Al Manakh, near where the base was once located.

US personnel were sent softball equipment and established a softball league while at Sharjah. Photo: John L Rato collection at US Library of Congress

Those attending gathered to hear about a new book called The US Army Air Force in Sharjah in the Second World War by Dr Athol Yates, associate professor of international and civil security at Khalifa University, and Khalid Al Shehhi, a PhD candidate at the University of Sharjah.

Volunteers helped in the research and colourisation of some of the photographs in the book, which also involved detailed research in US archives.

The book explores why the station was established, its significance for the Allied war machine and what every day life was like for American troops noting they even managed to established a softball league while there.

It is a tale of wartime intrigue, geopolitical competition and the base’s role in helping to bring an end to the devastating global war.

Supporting the war effort

“The region was part of a huge global network the Allies had set up to fight the Germans and Japanese,” Dr Yates told the gathering.

“And Sharjah plays an important role in this. It allowed a huge amount of aircraft, personnel and material [to be sent] to fight.”

The base was operated by “US Army Air Forces” an