============================================================================= Western Desert Air Force (WDAF) 23 October 1942 Subordinated to 'General Headquarters RAF Middle East' (GHQ RAF Middle East)
Information immediately below from http:
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.
============================================================================= 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)
