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37-512: Middle East Command was a command of the Royal Air Force (RAF) that was active during the Second World War . It had been preceded by RAF Middle East , which was established in 1918 by the redesignation of HQ Royal Flying Corps Middle East that had been activated in 1917 although a small Royal Flying Corps presence had been operational in the region since 1914. RAF Middle East Command

74-566: A stipulation that American personnel should serve only in US units. From mid-September, the P-40 Warhawk squadrons of the 57th FG and the B-25 squadrons of the 12th BG were officially attached to DAF units. On 12 November 1942, USAMEAF was dissolved and replaced by the 9th Air Force , although some US units remained with Commonwealth formations for some time. British and Commonwealth personnel who served with

111-543: Is as follows: (DOD) 3. A unit or units, an organization, or an area under the command of one individual. Also called CMD. See also area command; combatant command ; combatant command (command authority). Major Command or Major Commands are large formations of the United States Armed Forces . Historically, a Major Command is the highest level of command. Within the United States Army , the acronym MACOM

148-624: Is used for Major Command. Within the United States Air Force , the acronym MAJCOM is used. There are several types of Major Commands in the United States Armed Forces : Desert Air Force Associated articles The Desert Air Force (DAF), also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert , Air Headquarters Libya , the Western Desert Air Force , and the First Tactical Air Force (1TAF),

185-706: The Allied air forces in the North African and Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) at the Casablanca Conference . The Western Desert Air Force became a sub-command of Coningham's Northwest African Tactical Air Force (part of Northwest African Air Forces ) in February 1943 and Air Vice Marshal Harry Broadhurst became its Air Officer Commanding. On 18 February 1943, the Mediterranean Air Command (MAC)

222-902: The Allied formation that also included non-RAF units. The RAF presence in the Middle East from the time of the First World War was similar to that of the Middle East Command of the British Army , with operational responsibility for Egypt, the Sudan and Kenya, and administrative responsibility for Palestine and Transjordan. Separate RAF Commands held operational responsibility for Iraq and Aden while RAF Mediterranean held responsibility for Malta . However, interwar planning held that in times of war, Middle East Command would assume control over all of these commands. A small Royal Flying Corps presence

259-616: The Gold Coast , from which new aircraft were received by sea, assembled, test flown, and ferried across Africa to Khartoum , a route first pioneered by Air Vice-Marshal Arthur Coningham in 1925. By this and other means, by the end of November 1940 the RAF in Egypt had been bolstered by No. 73 and No. 274 Squadrons with Hurricanes and No. 37 and No. 38 Squadrons with Vickers Wellingtons , as well as several South African Air Force squadrons, ready for

296-502: The Luftwaffe and German ground forces. During the first week of July, 1942, WDAF flew 5,458 sorties against Axis forces, using the innovative tactic of leap-frogging airfields, and Erwin Rommel informed Berlin on 4 July that he was abandoning his El Alamein offensive to concentrate on defence. Later, the tactic of bombing known as Tedder's carpet was developed. On 15 February 1943,

333-511: The Luftwaffe concept of tactical air support by using fighter-bombers linked via radio to " Forward air controllers " attached to Army units. The DAF improved the concept by introducing " cab ranks " of fighter-bombers in the air waiting to be called on. The DAF provided air support to the Eighth Army until the end of the war, fighting over Egypt , Libya , Tunisia , Sicily and mainland Italy. The tactical concepts which had proven so successful in

370-561: The Mediterranean Fleet shot down eight Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 bombers without loss. The force in the Middle East was clearly too small, reinforcement by sea was a 14,000-mile trip that required three months to complete, and reinforcement via the Western Mediterranean was hardly practical due to the ranges involved, which only bombers could achieve. Thus, an alternate reinforcement route began to be pioneered via Takoradi in

407-940: The Northwest African Photographic Reconnaissance Wing ) DAF continued to provide close tactical support to the British Eighth Army as a subordinate element of NATAF. MAC was disbanded in December 1943 and reorganised into the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) which absorbed NAAF, RAFM, and possibly some units of RAFME. DAF, still under Broadhurst, became a component of the Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force (MATAF) under Major General John K. Cannon . The successful tactical air support of ground forces in Egypt and Libya pioneered by Tedder and Coningham

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444-626: The Polish Fighting Team ("Skalski's Circus") was attached to No. 145 Squadron RAF . From July 1942, the United States Army Middle East Air Force (USAMEAF, Major-General Lewis H. Brereton ) attached USAAF personnel from the 57th Fighter Group and 12th Bombardment Group to DAF fighter and bomber units, as "observers". This was technically a violation of the Arnold-Portal-Towers agreement , which included

481-727: The Air Headquarters Western Desert. Between 18 November 1941 to 19 May 1942 the A.H.Q. Western Desert was organised as: A.H.Q. Western Desert – Maaten Bagush 261 Wing 270 Wing 253 Wing 258 Wing 262 Wing Western Desert Air Force (WDAF) was organised on 27 October 1942 as: Subordinated to General Headquarters RAF Middle East (GHQ RAF Middle East) (Part of United States Army Middle East Air Force but with exception of 81st Bombardment Squadron, under WDAF operational control): In January 1943, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill , American President Franklin D. Roosevelt , and their staffs reorganised

518-624: The British Chiefs of Staff. Middle East Command was absorbed into RAF Mediterranean and Middle East on 1 August 1945. HQ RFC Middle East RAF Middle East RAF Middle East Area RAF Middle East RAF Middle East (Air Officer's Commanding in Chief) Middle East Command Command (military formation) The relevant definition of "command" according to the United States Department of Defense

555-526: The Command under Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas became a major sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command (MAC), the official Allied air force reorganisation established at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943. Douglas took over Middle East Command when its previous commander, Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder was named Air Commander-in-Chief of MAC. For Middle East operations, Tedder reported to

592-505: The DAF as it was unsuited to European operations which were generally fought at much higher altitudes and against more formidable opposition. The P-40 was used initially as an air superiority fighter but it was also adapted (and found to be ideally suited) to ground attack missions. The DAF always outnumbered its Axis opponents and concentrated on long-range interdiction and direct tactical Eighth Army support. Unfortunately, these tactics meant that

629-460: The DAF until the closing stages of the war in Europe. By that time, 3 Sqn had the most substantial service record of any DAF squadron, including the greatest number of kills (217 claims). Many Australian pilots also flew with RAF or SAAF squadrons in the DAF. Many exiles from Occupied Europe —especially Polish airmen— flew in DAF squadrons. No. 112 Squadron RAF was largely made up of Poles and in 1943,

666-642: The DAF was generally equipped with older aircraft types. Initially equipped with obsolete types like the Gloster Gladiator biplane fighter and the Bristol Blenheim light bomber, the DAF made a good showing against the equally obsolete Italian Air Force . After the direct threat to Britain receded, newer types were assigned to the DAF, such as the Hawker Hurricane and Douglas Boston medium bomber in 1941. US-built P-40 Tomahawks/Kittyhawks also went to

703-538: The RAF had to "equate its attempt to dominate the front line with avoidance of unnecessary losses". Aggressive actions induced a "defensive mentality among the Italians", aided by expedients such as using the single Hawker Hurricane in the Middle East, rapidly switched between landing grounds, to provide an exaggerated picture of British strength in the eyes of Italian reconnaissance aircraft. There were occasional single successes as well; on 17 August 1940, Gladiators covering

740-702: The Tedder-Coningham air interdiction during the desert war was the model upon which the Northwest African Air Forces were created at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943. Earlier, Tedder had been Churchill 's default choice as Air Officer Commanding in Chief of RAF Middle East when his first choice, Air Vice-Marshal Owen Boyd was captured. But soon after Tedder assumed command in June 1941, he made

777-648: The Western Desert Air Forces had 16 squadrons of aircraft (nine fighter, six medium bomber and one tactical reconnaissance) and fielded approximately 1,000 combat aircraft by late 1941. By the time of the Second Battle of El Alamein , the DAF fielded 29 squadrons (including nine South African and three USAAF units) flying Boston , Baltimore and Mitchell medium bombers; Hurricane , Kittyhawk , Tomahawk, Warhawk and Spitfire fighters and fighter-bombers. There were over 1,500 combat aircraft, more than double

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814-504: The beginning of Operation Compass . During Compass, "the squadrons of Hurricanes, Lysanders, and Blenheims … strove hard to keep pace [with the ground forces], often landing after a combat sortie at a more advanced strip than from which they had set out." On 19 April 1941, RAF No. 204 Group was created under the command of Air Commodore Raymond Collishaw and consisted of: On 30 July 1941, Collishaw handed over No. 204 Group to Coningham. Later that year, RAF Middle East Command came under

851-533: The command of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder . On 21 October 1941, Air Headquarters Western Desert was created by upgrading 204 Group to command status. Three wings operated in North Africa at first, 258 and 269 Wings operated over the front line and 262 Wing defended the Nile Delta. On 20 January 1942, the command was renamed Air Headquarters Libya ; however, on 3 February it reverted to its former name of

888-488: The critical campaigns in Egypt and Libya during 1942 that Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder , as Air Commander-in-Chief of RAF Middle East, successfully coordinated his strategic , coastal , and tactical air forces consisting primarily of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group , No. 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group , and especially Air Vice Marshal Arthur Coningham 's Air Headquarters (AHQ) Western Desert , respectively. The success of

925-467: The faster Messerschmitt Bf 109s of Jadgdeschwader 27 usually had the advantage of height and surprise over the low-level, slow-flying DAF fighters and losses were correspondingly high. In 1942, the DAF reorganised its tactics and introduced better aircraft. Spitfires were eventually used for air superiority, becoming operational in August 1942, which allowed the DAF to gain air superiority. The DAF adapted

962-479: The following statement that not only characterized his mission in the Middle East, but the organization of the Mediterranean Air Command in early 1943 and nearly all future air forces: "In my opinion, sea, land and air operations in the Middle East Theatre are now so closely inter-related that effective coordination will only be possible if the campaign is considered and controlled as a combined operation in

999-525: The four commands detailed above. On 10 June 1940, RAF bomber squadrons in AHQ Egypt—under the direction of No. 202 Group RAF —totalled five squadrons of Bristol Blenheims , one of Vickers Valentias and one of Bristol Bombays . The Valentia and Bombay could be used as troop transports or medium bombers. AHQ Sudan had 254 Wing with No. 14 , No. 223 and No. 47 squadrons, AHQ Aden had No. 8 , No. 11 , and No. 39 squadrons, and No. 84 Squadron RAF

1036-399: The full sense of that term." The concept itself was certainly not a new one, but putting it into practice under the military dogma and commander egos of the day was easier said than done. Throughout 1942 in particular, the coordination and flexibility exercised between Coningham's Western Desert Air Force (WDAF) and the 8th Army has been contrasted with the more rigid relationship between

1073-764: The latter part of the North African campaign were adopted with even greater success during the Invasion of Europe in 1944. The SAAF provided over a dozen squadrons to the DAF. This was their main theatre of operations, as the South African government had decided their military should not operate outside Africa. Between April 1941 and May 1943, the 11 squadrons of the SAAF flew almost 34,000 sorties and claimed 342 enemy aircraft destroyed. The Australian contribution included fighter and bomber squadrons, including No. 3 Squadron RAAF , which arrived in North Africa in late 1940 and served with

1110-760: The number of aircraft the Axis could field. Prior to the establishment of the Desert Air Force, several RAF formations operated in North Africa. On 3 September 1939, RAF Middle East Command —under Air Chief Marshal Sir William Mitchell , Air Officer Commanding -in-Chief Middle East—comprised four separate commands : for Egypt (designated Middle East), RAF Iraq , Mediterranean at Malta , and RAF Aden ( No. 8 , No. 203 , and No. 94 Squadrons ). Mitchell handed over to Air Vice Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore in early May 1940. When Italy declared war in June 1940, Longmore had just 29 squadrons numbering less than 300 aircraft in

1147-685: Was an Allied tactical air force created from No. 204 Group RAF under RAF Middle East Command in North Africa in 1941 to provide close air support to the British Eighth Army against Axis forces . Throughout the Second World War , the DAF was made up of squadrons from the Royal Air Force (RAF), the South African Air Force (SAAF), the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and other Allied air forces. In October 1941,

RAF Middle East Command - Misplaced Pages Continue

1184-811: Was at Shaibah in Iraq with Blenheims. Prior to the Italian invasion of Egypt , under Air Commodore Raymond Collishaw , the RAF in Egypt—which comprised nine squadrons—focused its activities on ground support, reconnaissance, and only when necessary aerial combat with the Italian Regia Aeronautica . The force at Collishaw's disposal consisted of No. 33 , No. 80 , and No. 112 Squadrons with Gloster Gladiators , No. 208 Squadron RAF with Westland Lysanders , four Blenheim squadrons (No.s 30, 55, 113, and 211) and No. 216 Squadron RAF with Bombays. With this small force,

1221-569: Was deployed to the Middle East in late 1914. By 1 July 1916 this force had grown sufficiently to be raised to a brigade as Middle East Brigade . By December 1917 Middle East Brigade had grown to become HQ RFC Middle East which was renamed to RAF Middle East in April 1918. It renamed again to RAF Middle East Area in March 1920, then back to RAF Middle East in April 1922, and finally became RAF Middle East Command on 29 December 1941. From mid-February until MAC

1258-456: Was disbanded on 10 December 1943, the Command consisted of the following sub-commands with their initial commanders indicated: However, during this period of the Second World War , Middle East Command was distinct from the other major sub-commands of MAC: Accordingly, Middle East Command was primarily responsible for operations in the Eastern part of the Middle East during the war. It was during

1295-761: Was established with Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder in charge of all Allied air forces in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO). When the Allied forces invaded Sicily ( Operation Husky ) on 10 July 1943, Desert Air Force (DAF) was created by simply renaming Western Desert Air Force. For Operation Husky, DAF contained Advanced and Rear elements. Advanced Headquarters, Desert Air Force, No. 211 (Offensive Fighter) Group with Spitfires: Other Advanced units included: Rear Headquarters, Desert Air Force. Operating from Tripoli Area (60 and 682 were Photographic Reconnaissance (PR) squadrons assigned from

1332-469: Was formed on 29 December 1941 following the redesignation of RAF Middle East. During the early part of the Second World War , the Command was one of the three British commands in the Middle East, the others being the British Army 's Middle East Command and the Royal Navy 's Mediterranean Fleet . On 15 February 1943, RAF Middle East Command became a major sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command (MAC),

1369-520: Was the model for the establishment of NAAF at the Casablanca Conference and the tri-force (strategic, coastal, tactical) elements of this air interdiction model were retained in the new MAAF structure which generally persisted until the end of the Second World War. DAF existed until 30 June 1946, when it was renamed the Advanced AHQ Italy. The air defence of Britain always received priority, so

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