U.S AIRFORCE HOSPITAL.

During the early 1950’s a new, one storey, 150 bed military hospital was built on the Wheelus U.S Airbase, Tripoli¹.

The fully air conditioned, five ward hospital was the largest military medical facility outside of the U.S.A. It was equipped with the very latest diagnostic and treatment facilities, including x.ray and physical therapy departments, along with an outpatient unit, pharmacy, dental clinic, laboratory and an administrative wing².

The hospital was capable of supplying full medical services to Wheelus air force personnel and their dependents, the only exceptions were orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology and otolaryngology departments, which were covered by the U.S Airbase hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany. Wheelus also provided hospitalization and outpatient treatment for troops in Saudi, Crete, Turkey and Greece³.

King Idris was admitted to the hospital many times for various health and dental matters, as was Queen Fatima, who WAS rumoured to have spent a week each month in a private wing during her menses⁵. Queen Fatima was also admitted for the birth of their son in 1953, who sadly died the following day⁵.