The Cantonment passed from British Army Command to the Royal Air Force in 1922 when the Royal Air Force took over garrison duties in Iraq as a result of the Cairo Conference.

[1] There were extensive barracks, recreational facilities, a large hospital, Air Headquarters (AHQ), communication facilities, maintenance units, aeroplane squadron hangars, RAF Armoured Car Company lines, RAF Iraq Levies lines and a civil cantonment.

This time was provided "in order to enable His Majesty the King of 'Iraq to organise the necessary forces to replace them."

The final evacuation of British Forces from Hinaidi took place on 21 December 1937 and the handover of the entire cantonment to the Iraqi Government was completed on 17 January 1938.

[3] During the Anglo-Iraqi War in May 1941, the airfield was bombed and strafed by the British Royal Air Force, damaging and destroying Iraqi aircraft.