Facts on the Desert Air Force 1942-1943

**spidge** · 11-24-2007, 12:16 AM

Units MTO

Western Desert Air Force (WDAF)
23 October 1942
Subordinated to 'General Headquarters RAF Middle East' (GHQ RAF Middle East)

Information immediately below from http:

//www.fleetairarmarchive.net/squadrons/RAF_DAF_FAA_squadrons.html

The Desert Air Force first formally came into existence in late 1941 as the Western Desert Air Force (WDAF), although it had been previously used to describe the Allied Air Forces in the Middle East. This page covers some of the many Units present in 1942 and 1943.

The RFC, which gave birth to the RAF, was formed in 1912. It comprised a Military Wing, a Naval Wing, The Royal Aircraft Factory and the Central Flying School. Eighteen months after its formation, the Naval Wing of the RFC was reformed into the Royal Naval Air Service.
In 1941, Air Vice-Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham took over command of RAF No.202 Group and began the first steps to the creation of the DAF proper. During July 1941, No.253 wing was formed for experiments in close support over the front lines and included two squadrons of Hurricanes and one of Blenheims. Shortly after this, Nos. 258 and 269 wings were formed for operations over the front line and No.262 wing was formed for the defence of the Nile Delta Zone. No.258 and 269 Wings formed the nucleus of the Western Desert Air Force when it formed in October 1941.
In November 1941, the Allied forces carried out Operation Crusader, which was launched on 18 November 1941. In support of the offensive were No 28 RAF squadron, 258 wing of four Hurricane and two Tomahawk squadrons, 262 wing of three Tomahawk and two hurricane Squadrons and 80 squadron which was equipped with the first hurri-bombers. 269 Wing defended the rear areas with two RAF Hurricane Squadrons and a composite unit of Fleet Air Arm and RAF Hurricane and Grumman Martlet aircraft.
On 18 February 1943, the north-West African Allied Air Force was formed by the reorganization of all Allied air forces in the Mediterranean area including the WDAF, RAF Middle East,, Malta, Tunisia and Algeria. Beneath its banner was the North West African Allied Tactical Air Force, commanded by the WDAFs Air Marshal Coningham. Contained within this were four subordinate formation, one of which was the Desert Air Force as the WDAF had been retitled, under the command of Vice-Marshal Harry Broadhurst.
The War in Africa ended on 13th May 1943, and flying from Malta, the DAF subsequently supported the Allied landings on Sicily.
The Italian winter of 1943/1944 saw the Eighth Army cross the Trigno and Sangro rivers, the DAF introducing a new form of close support, the Rover David and Cab Rank systems, where formations of patrolling fighter-bombers were maintained over the front lines to be called down upon targets by RAF liaison officer with the forward elements of the Army. In April 1945, the Allied offensive covered by massive air support launched itself northwards. An armistice was signed in Italy on 24th April and all fighting in Italy ended on 2nd May.

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Western Desert Air Force HQ 1942
Desert Air Task Force (USAAF) (administrative control of US attached forces)
South African Air Force (SAAF)

Air Ambulance Squadron

3rd SAAF Bomber Wing
No.12 SAAF Sq (24x Marylands)
No.21 SAAF Sq (24x Baltimores I,II & III)
No.24 SAAF Sq (24x Douglas Boston III)

232th Bomber Wing
No.55 Sq (24x Baltimores I,II & III)
No.223 Sq (24x Baltimores I,II & III)
82nd USAAF Bomber Sq (12x Mitchell B-25C)
83rd USAAF Bomber Sq (12x Mitchell B-25C)
434th USAAF Bomber Sq (12x Mitchell B-25C)

285th Recce Wing
Later picture of a 40 Sqdn Spitfire pilot VonDeck
No.40 SAAF Sq (Tactical recon) (18x Hurricane I)
No.60 SAAF Suvey Sq (Photo recon) (8x Marylands and others) No.1437 Flight Squadron (Strategic recon) (8x Baltimores II)1437 Strategic Reconnaissance Flight later used P-51B/C known as Apache A-36A and later again 2 Spitfire , ER532 (Vbt) and JG938 (Vc). One of Spitfire (ER532) will have a very short career within the unit, because it is destroyed by August 24, 1943 by Sergeant PL White, he is seriously injured in the accident. (ER532, Takoradi Middle East 16-12-42 Crashed nr Lentini East FAC3 24-8-43, JG938 9MU 1-1-43 82MU 21-1-43 Silver Ash 14-2-43 Takoradi 10-3-43 Middle East 30-3-43 NW African AF 30-11-44 Turkey 29-3-45) The North American A-36A serials are as follows:
July 11, the Flight sets up an advanced station at Luqa (Malta)
42-84107 HK947/A, to excess inventory list Jul 8, 1944, August 17, 1943, Flying Officer J.L. Griffith and W.H. Gilliland on a recognisance mission are surprised by the attack of... RAF 43 Squadron, Spitfires which confused them for Me 109. In the fray, the two pilots of N° 1437 Flight do not recognize their attackers immediately and start the combat. Griffith takes on the top Spitfire causing the Pilot to ditch. Our two pilots continue their mission, but Griffith must evacuate its HK947/A, after being hit by the flak by flying over an enemy armoured column. He bails out above water and will be helped one hour later by Walrus X9506 of N° 284 Squadron.
42-83898 HK945/B, condemned excess inventory Jul 2, 1944, RAF, Flight Sergeant K.G. E Stanley, 1379758, .shot down by flak, plane burns, Pilot POW # 1340, Stalag L6, July 31, 1943. Location not given for the crash area but that same day they moved from Luga (Malta) to Landing Ground of San Francesco close to Lentini in Sicily
42-84018 HK944/C, transfered from the USAAF in August of 1943 and serving with 1437 Flt / 260 Sqdn / and No.3 ADU (Air Delivery Unit) and in that order, and was Damaged beyond repair after its undercarriage jammed and it belly landed at Bari on the 2nd of May 1944, condemned excess inventory Jul 8, 1944
42-83906 HK955/D, to RAF Jul 9, 1943, other source has 3 planes delivered on the morning
of the 4th July 1943 and 3 in the afternoon while unit is temporarily at Matariya (Egypt).
42-83829 HK956/E, condemned Jul 2, 1944, Squadron Leader S.G. Welshman, his plane suffers engine failure on September 4, 1943 causing the cancellation of the mission. (Might be the date of the 53 RSU picture)
42-84117 HK946/F, to excess inventory list Jul 8, 1944

Other source has ' The last three planes, HK946, 955 and 956, are Stricken Off Strength on August 31, 1944

Photographed at Foggia, Italy 18 November 1943, HK944, 42-84018, Coded C no Unit prefix letters where used in 1437 Flight, when 1437 Flight disbanded in October 1943, this plane went to RAF 260 squadron for non operational training, note the gas detection patches forward of the wing leading edge and over the serial on the fuselage, condemned excess inventory Jul 8, 1944, Another source has The HK944 is sent to N° 260 Squadron to help this unit to change on Mustang III. It then goes to N° 3 Aircraft Delivery Unit, before to be broken up May 2, 1944 in Bari

Harold Wise 53 RSU, Joined the RAF from RAF Bridlington. Photo supplied by Pete Ward

Harold Wise and Crew of 53 RSU picking up HK956, 42-83829, Coded E of 1437 Flight. no Prefix
letters where used on these Apache A-36 while in 1437 Flight service. Photo supplied by Pete Ward

No.211 Group
============

No.7 SAAF Sq (16x Hurricane IID)
No.6 Sq (16x Hurricane IID)

Hurricane IID of No 6 Sqn North Africa 1942

64th USAAF Sq (18x P-40F Warhawks)
65th USSAF Sq (18x P-40F Warhawks)

On 16 September, 1943 the 57th Fighter Group came under operational

control of Air Officer Commanding, Western Desert. The 64th and 65th FS became

a separate wing in RAF 211 Group while 66th FS was transferred to RAF 239 Wing

on 6 October 1943.

233th Wing
No.2 Sq SAAF (16x Kittyhawks I, II & III)

No.4 Sq SAAF (16x Kittyhawks I, II & III)
No.5 Sq SAAF (16x Tomahawks) (Another good site on the SAAF)
No.260 Sq (16x Kittyhawks I & IIb)

260 Sqdn KittyHawks

239th Wing
No.112 Sq (16x Kittyhawk IA)
No.250 Sq (16x Kittyhawk IIA)
No.260 Sq (16x Tomahawks)
66th USSAF Sq (18x P-40F Warhawks)

On 16 September, 1943 the 57th Fighter Group came under operational

control of Air Officer Commanding, Western Desert. The 64th and 65th FS became

a separate wing in RAF 211 Group while 66th FS was transferred to RAF 239 Wing

on 6 October 1943.

244th Wing
No.145 Sq (16x Spitfires Vb)

Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXc 145 Sqdn
Tunisia, North Africa, Spring 1943
Sqdn Leader Stanislaw Skalski
Polish Fighting Team / 145 Sqdn Comprised of 15 pilots and six Mk IX Spitfires, the Polish Fighting Team, led by Stanislaw Skalski, featured some of the most famous pilots of the Polish Air Force. Eugeniusz Horbaczewski, Karol Pniak, Waclaw Krol and Kazimier Sporney were members of PFT popularly known as “Skalski’s Circus”, this elite unit racked up an impressive number of victories in the short time of operation

History and aircraft codes/numbers in Polish

Polskie Siły Powietrzne

Eugeniusz "Dziubek" Horbaczewski

No.601 Sq (16x Spitfires Vb)
No.73 Sq (16x Tomahawks IIb)
No.92 Sq (16x Spitfires Vc)

SUNDAY, 18 APRIL 1943, EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (Ninth Air Force) Off Cap Bon, 46 P-40F's

of the 57th Fighter Group's three squadrons (64th, 65th and 66th Fighter Squadrons) and

the attached 314th Fighter Squadron, 324th Fighter Group, plus 11 Spitfires of the

RAF 92 Squadron flying top cover, take off to patrol. At approximately 1800 hours,

they spot 2 Bf 109's and an armada of 65 Ju 52/3m transports heading back to Sicily

for more supplies. The transports are in three great vees, covered by 16 Bf 109's and

Mc 202's and 5 Bf 110's. The 64th Fighter Squadron and the RAF Spitfires stay high; the

remaining 3 squadrons of P-40's attack the Luftwaffe formation and down 24 Ju 53/3m's

and 16 fighters; another 35 Ju 52/3m's crash along the coast.

No. 417 Sqn RCAF http://members.tripod.com/jkoppie/417/417.htm

Transferred to Port Tewfik, Gulf of Suez, June 1942 as part of Desert Air Force. No aircraft until September when they got Hurricane IICs then Spit VBs and Spit VCs in October.
Transfered to Triploi Libya, in February 1943 with 244 Wing.
Transfered to Ben Gardane, Tunisia, in March, 1943. Then to Mellaha and Goulvine.
Transferred to Malta for Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, in mid 1943.
Moved to Cassabile, south of Syracuse, Sicily in July, 1943. Then to Lentini West and Gerbini. Re-equipped with Spit MkVIIIs

**DFC** · 07-01-2009, 08:23 PM

Hi Spidge things were pretty dire in the early days it took a long time for the allies to get good aircraft of any quantity and amount of a/c grounded because of the conditions was
another factor, wear and tare ,lack of spare parts also adding to the small amount of a/c serviceable at any one time and just getting the a/c to the theatre to start with, about 20% never even arrived.
Cheers AJ

**Antipodean Andy** · 07-02-2009, 12:23 AM

Did someone say Desert Air Force? Schawing!

There's a nice little bit in Ron Cundy's A Gremlin On My Shoulder about ferrying aircraft from the west coast of Africa.

http://ww2chat.com/forums/books-film...c-dfm-mid.html

**Oggie2620** · 01-29-2010, 07:47 AM

Spidge
The Geocities site for the middle east units is one of the disappeared ones!!!!
Dee

**spidge** · 01-29-2010, 09:02 AM

No.212 Group
============

243th Wing
No.1 SAAF Sq (16x Hurricane IIc)
No.33 Sq (16x Hurricane IIc)
No.213 Sq (16x Hurricane IIb)

RAF 213 Stations

Church Fenton, Yorks, England 12 Group, Fighter Command Wittering, Northants, England 12 Group, Fighter Command Merville, Lille, France British Air Forces France Command Biggin Hill, Surrey, England 11 Group, Fighter Command Wittering, Northants, England 12 Group, Fighter Command Wittering, Northants, England 12 Group, Fighter Command Biggin Hill, Surrey, England 11 Group, Fighter Command Exeter, Devon, England 11 Group, Fighter Command Exeter, Devon, England 10 Group, Fighter Command Tangmere, Sussex, England 11 Group, Fighter Command Leconfield, Yorks, England 12 Group, Fighter Command Driffield, Yorks, England 13 Group, Fighter Command Castletown, Caithness, Scotland 13 Group, Fighter Command Sumburgh, Shetland, Scotland 13 Group, Fighter Command Castletown, Caithness, Scotland 13 Group, Fighter Command Turnhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland 13 Group, Fighter Command HMS "Furious" Liverpool to Mediterranean Abu Sueir, Suez Canal, Egypt Air Headquarters, Middle East Sidi Haneish, Egypt Attached 73 Squadron L G 10, Gerawala, Egypt Attached 274 Squadron Aqir, Palestine Attached 80 Squadron Haifa, Palestine Attached 80 Squadron Ramat David, Palestine Attached 80 Squadron Nicosia, Cyprus Attached 80 Squadron Nicosia, Cyprus Air Headquarters, Middle East Ismailia, Egypt Air Headquarters, Middle East L G 229, Idku, Egypt Air Headquarters, Middle East Shandur, Egypt Air Headquarters, Middle East El Khanka, Egypt Air Headquarters, Middle East L G 32, Dehkeila, Egypt 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 90, Near Amriya, Egypt 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 229, Idku, Egypt 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 229, Idku, Egypt 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD Gambut West, Libya 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 142, Gambut Satellite No. 2, Libya 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 148, Sidi Azeiz, Libya. 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 155, Egypt 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 75, Sidi Barani South, Egypt 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 76, Mischefa, Egypt 243 Wing, 211 Group, AHQ WD L G 07, Mersa Matruh West, Egypt 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 12, Sidi Haneish North, Egypt 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 105, El Daba, Egypt 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 154, Near Amriya, Egypt 243 Wing, 211 Group, AHQ WD L G 172, Near Burg-el-Arab, Egypt 243 Wing, 211 Group, AHQ WD L G 154, Near Amriya, Egypt 243 Wing, 211 Group, AHQ WD L G 219, Kilo 8, Egypt 243 Wing, 211 Group, AHQ WD L G 85, Amriya South, Egypt 243 Wing, 211 Group, AHQ WD L G 172, Near Burg-el-Arab, Egypt 243 Wing, 211 Group, AHQ WD L G 85, Amriya South, Egypt 243 Wing, 211 Group, AHQ WD L G 172, Near Burg-el-Arab, Egypt 243 Wing, 211 Group, AHQ WD L G 20, Qotafiyah I, Egypt 243 Wing, 211 Group, AHQ WD L G 101, Near Sdi Haneish, Libya 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 125, Libya 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD L G 101, Near Sidi Haneish, Libya 243 Wing, 212 Grpop, AHQ WD L G 164, El Adem, Tobruk, Libya 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD Maturba No 2, Libya 243 Wing, 212 Group, AHQ WD Misurata West, Libya 243 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ EGYPT Idku, Egypt 243 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ EGYPT Paphos, Cyprus 259 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ LEVANT Idku, Egypt 243 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ EGYPT St. Jean, Palestine 259 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ LEVANT Paphos, Cyprus 259 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ LEVANT Lakatamia, Cyprus 259 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ LEVANT Idku, Egypt 243 Wing, 219 Group, AHQ EGYPT

No.238 Sq (16x Hurricane IIb)

7th SAAF Wing
No.80 Sq (16x Hurricane IIc)
No.127 Sq (16x Hurricane IIb)
No.335 Sq (16x Hurricane IIb)
No.274 Sq (16x Hurricane IIb)

No. 274 Sqdn Hurricanes circa January 1941.
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United States Army, Middle East Air Force (USAMEAF)
23 October 1942
Subordinated to 'United States Army Forces in the Middle East' (USAFIME)
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USAMEAF HQ

9th Bomber Command
==================

98th Bombardment Group USAAF (Bombing shipping and harbor installations in Libya)
343rd Bombardment Sq (B-24D) (Palestine)
344th Bombardment Sq (B-24D)
345th Bombardment Sq (B-24D)
415th Bombardment Sq (D-24D)

1st Provisional Group USAAF (Middle east, dissolved 31 Oct, renamed to 376th Bombardment Group USAAF)
512th Bombardment Squadron (B-24)
513th Bombardment Squadron (B-24)
514th Bombardment Squadron (B-24)
515th Bombardment Squadron (B-24)

Middle East Air Service Command
===============================
323rd Service Group (Syria)

Desert Air Task Force
=====================

57th Fighter Group USAAF (All units Detached to RAF)

12th Bombardment Group USAAF (All units but one, Detached to RAF)
81st USAAF Bomber Sq (12x Mitchell B-25C)

Further Reading http://www.milhist.net/usaaf/mto.html

Seven of the RAF Kittyhawks Mk. II were handed over to the Free French Air Force in Africa. Almost all of these aircraft can be seen on the above photo. The aircraft are representative of the late P-40F production with lengthened fuselage. FL263,13839 to RAF as Kittyhawk IIA FL263 Jul 1942. Diverted to French ADO Apr 17, 1945, struck off RAF rolls Mar 31, 1945., 270, 13852 to RAF as Kittyhawk IIA FL270. Tranferred to French AF Mar 31, 1945., 276, 13864 to RAF as Kittyhawk IIA FL276 Jul 1942. Transferred to French AF Mar 30, 1945, 280, 13872 to RAF as Kittyhawk IIA FL280. Transferred to French AF Mar 30, 1945., 383, 305, To Armee de 1'Air (Free French) 31 Mar 1945 and 307, To Armee de 1'Air (Free French) 31 Mar 1945, were handed over to the Free French, who operated them in North Africa.

Is this a picture of the 94th with RAF markings?

The 94th had lost the use of its "Hat-in-the-Ring" emblem shortly after World War I.

"Captain Eddie used the "Hat-in-the-Ring" to advertise some of his post-war business ventures(such as the Rickenbacker automobile--

a casualty of the Depression) and the War Department directed the 94th to find another emblem;

so, it adopted an Indian chief in profile--hence the name of the squadron's athletic teams, the Indians"

Hello,Nice website.

Your caption for http://www.mts.net/~royb/images/p-40_indianwarbonnet.jpg asks whether the picture shows the 94th FS with RAF markings. Unfortunately it doesn’t, its just another angle on the two pictures above it – note the Indian war bonnets on the French aircraft, the French style tail markings covering the full height of the rudder, and the large hangar in the background.

Thanks,

Stephen Cumming

Update: Line-up of 13 P-40 United States Warhawks which Americans recently presented to the Fighting French air forces at an airport somewhere in North Africa on behalf of the people of the United States.

That 'somewhere in North Africa' was Casablanca and the date was January 9th, 1943. Despite the caption describing thirteen P-40s, there are only twelve Hawks in the photo. All were formerly with the USAAF 33rd FG and were officially handed over to the French GC II/5 'Groupe Lafayette' or 'Lafayette Escadrille' during this presentation ceremony.

Shores in USAAF Fighter Units in MTO 1941-1945 ISBN 0 85045 244 9, has 30 P-40F going to the French in Morocco from the 33FG. pg 6

Other aircraft present here are the Gooney Bird in the background and some French Dewoitine D.520s in the hangar. Also visible in the hangar is a lone French Hawk 75. (P-36)

Quote From

http://www.1stfighter.org/warstories/hoffman.html

Below 3 Sqdn RAAF

No. 94 Squadron Kittyhawk circa February/March 1942
AK739-FZ-R 94 SQDN

USAAF Groups and Squadrons 1942/43 MTO

Northwest African Strategic Air Forces, flying from Tunisian bases, under Doolittle's command. Pictures and Profiles:

Source: http://www.afa.org/magazine/June2002/0602pantel.asp

The NASAF comprised four groups of B-17 bombers (2nd Bomb Group, 97th BG, 99th BG, and 301st BG); two groups of B-25 bombers (310th BG and 321st BG); three groups of B-26 bombers (17th BG, 319th BG, and 320th BG); three groups of P-38 fighters (1st Fighter Group, 14th FG, and 82nd FG); one group of P-40 fighters (325th FG); and several wings of Wellingtons from the RAF Middle East Command.

The mission of NAAF was basically tactical--the support of land and amphibious operations. This support might be delivered by airplanes of the NATAF or by long-range bomber aircraft of the NASAF. (Except for several attacks on Ploesti, Romania, and Wiener Neustadt, Austria, in August and October 1943, Mediterranean-based aircraft did not conduct strategic operations until after creation of Fifteenth Air Force in November 1943.)

THURSDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 1943,

MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (North African Air Force) HQ North African Air Force (NAAF) is set up under General Carl Spaatz, USAAF, and the Twelfth Air Force becomes a paper outfit.

Six principal subordinate commands are specified, i.e.:

North African Air Support Command (NAASC)

North African Coastal Air Force (NACAF)

North African Photographic Reconnaissance Wing (NAPRW)

North African Strategic Air Force (NASAF)

North African Training Command (NATC)

Twelfth Air Force Units assigned to NAAF described above are::

NAASC: XII Air Support Command [33d and 81st Fighter Groups and 47th Bombardment Group (Light)] NACAF: XII Fighter Command (31st, 52d and 350th Fighter Groups)

NAPRW: 3d Photographic Group

NASAF: XII Bomber Command [97th and 301st Bombardment Groups (Heavy); 17th, 310th and 319th Bombardment Groups (Medium); 1st, 14th and 82d Fighter Groups; and the 68th Observation Group]

NATC: 15th Bombardment Squadron (Light) In Algeria, weather cancels heavy and medium bomber operations. In Tunisia, fighters provide direct support for the British First Army in the Sbeitla-Kasserine-Feriana areas.

HQ 1st Fighter Group and it's 27th Fighter Squadron P-38s transfers from Biskra, Algeria to Chateaudun-du-Rhumel, Algeria.

The 342d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 97th Bombardment Group (Heavy) with B-17s transfers from Biskra, Algeria to Chateaudun-du-Rhumel, Algeria.

USAAF 1942-1943 MTO

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**spidge** · 01-29-2010, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by Oggie2620

Spidge
The Geocities site for the middle east units is one of the disappeared ones!!!!
Dee

Found it!

Half in post one and half in post five.

**Oggie2620** · 02-03-2010, 07:09 AM

It make fascinating reading. One of the other Cpls I work with we reckon his father was a ground techie with one of those Sqns..... Will print the info off for him... Many thanks
Dee