The history of PAF Base Faisal, perhaps the oldest air base in Pakistan, is a rich one since the RAF used it as their primary maintenance base to some units throughout British India.

Soon after the India Command of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1918, with a projected deployment of 8 squadrons on the subcontinent, an aircraft repair depot was established at Lahore with a detachment at Karachi and a port depot at Bombay. In 1922 the main unit was shifted from Lahore to Drigh Road, where the first commanding officer of what was called Aircraft Depot, India', was Wing Commander Charles D Breese, RAF The change to Karachi was logical because knocked down aircraft could be off loaded from British ships at this closest Sub continental depot, assembled, test flown and ferried away to the squadrons based inland. This was to remain the station's chief function until RAF Drigh Road was handed over to the Royal Pakistan Air Force in 1947.

Early in 1927, among a draft of RAF airmen who arrived from the UK was an AC2 T E Shaw. In 1914, when he was 26 years old, he had been commissioned as an officer in the British army and, after earning world wide fame as 'Lawrence Arabia For his expeditions against the Turks, had retired as a lieutenant colonel. Now he was embarking upon a second career, as an ordinary airman recruit in the RAF. From his letters can be gained an authentic description of what Drigh Road was like at that time. He was assigned to the ERS (Engine Repair Shop) and wrote that although there was no hot water the food was excellent and Karachi city was only 7 miles away. In the evenings he would go out to listen to the music of the camel bells along Drigh Road. He wrote to his mother on 24 February 27 that the camp was new, stone-built and spacious', and that his job was "to follow the various engines as they pass through the shops, and record what changes and repairs and adjustments each requires".

On 24 February 42 the Aircraft Depot was redesignated No 1 (India) Maintenance Unit and on 20 February Group Captain J McFarlane assumed command of the unit. With the entry of the Japanese into WW II, the role of Drigh Road had expanded; it was now the main supply base not only for the RAE in India but also for all the squadrons and units engaged in the Burma and Malaya campaigns. Records show that in the early months of 1942 the greater number of aircraft despatched by the MU were Hurricane and Mohawk fighters.

On 29 June 43, work was started by the North Western Railway Co on a new rail siding in the dispersal area to expedite deliveries of aircraft, which arrived by sea in crates, as well as to replenish the bulk fuel tanks. The new sidings were completed on 22 August and a test train was successfully operated. The first Spitfires reached Drigh Road during August 43 and on 4 September, the operations record book (ORB) notes, Wing Commander R L F Boyd, Air Headquarters Bengal reported to the unit with 9 other pilots to collect the first consignment of Spitfires. The arrival of these aircraft in India was to prove a decisive factor in the air campaign against the Japanese."

On 21 November 43, repaving of the runways with concrete blocks was begun; these were laid at night to avoid any interruption of flying. Among the aircraft types flown by the T&D (Test and Despatch) flight in December 44 were: Hurricane, Spitfire, Vengeance, Defiant, Harvard, Fairchild, Blenheim, liberator, Wellington, Moth and Dakota. This reflects the magnitude and variety of work undertaken by the station at that time.

In January 44, no fewer than 260 crated aircraft arrived at the Karachi docks to be assembled, test flown and dispatched; and on 2 February the first of the most significant type after the Spitfire, arrived - 2 Republic P-47 Thunderbolts which had been transported from the United States by sea as deck cargo. On 27 April, another 35 P.47s arrived lit the same manner; most of the aircraft were towed to the unit along a desert track. During June 44, RAE Drigh Road accepted 111 aircraft after tests, and 109 of these were despatched; there were 426 test flights. The ORB for December recorded that the year 1944 finished up with 1,660 aircraft having been dispatched from this unit''.

With the termination of British rule on 14 August 47, and the creation of India and Pakistan with their separate armed services, Drigh Road was handed over to the Royal Pakistan Air Force with effect from 30 October 47 - after having been a Royal Air Force station for twenty five years, having supported RAF operations on the northwest frontier in the 1 920s and 30s and the Allied air offensive against the Japanese in World War II. In October 47, Group Captain SC Elworthy, RAF, took over as the first commanding officer of RPAF Drigh Road. After his return to the RAF in the years to come he would rise first to become Chief of the Air Staff of the RAE and later Chairman of Britain's Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chief of Defence Staff. Also in October 47, a colour hoisting parade was held in front of the station headquarters and the Pakistan flag was hoisted at the air base for the first time.

At about this time, the foundations were laid for the growth of major units of the future like 101 Maintenance Unit (101 MU) and 102 maintenance Unit (102 MU). Simultaneously efforts were being made to make the people, specially the youth, of Karachi air minded. A university Air Squadron was formed and air displays were held regularly. The first Pakistani Fighter squadron (No 11) equipped with Attackers, was established at this station in 1951 continued to be based here till 1956. Jet aircraft from America started arriving in early 1955, T-33s being the first. The defence minister, General Muhammad Ayub Khan and C-in-C RPAF visited the station on 6 May 55 inspected the T-33 trainers as well as No 11 Squadron, which was commanded by Squadron Leader F S Hussein. The first PAF investiture ceremony after the introduction of Pakistani awards was herd at Drigh Road on 1 3 November 59. Ten days later, another historic event took place; a &57 aircraft piloted by the C-in-C PAF, Air Marshal Asghar Khan landed at Drigh Road for the first time.