A History of the Mediterranean Air War, 1940–1945

Volume One: North Africa

Christopher Shores, Giovanni Massimello, Russell Guest

• Publisher: Grub Street Publishing
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781908117076
• eBook ISBN: 9781909808751
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: African History
• Index: History

This first volume in the seminal series on World War II aerial combat, pilots, and tactics that "reads like an encyclopedia on the subject" (Portland Book Review).
 
In the early days of World War II, both Allied and Axis powers extended the theater of war to North Africa, where hard-fought battles were conducted in the harsh desert. But before anyone could claim victory on the ground, they had to hold dominion in the air.
 
Here, historian Christopher Shores has combined his books Fighters over the Desert and Fighters over Tunisia into one volume, as well as adding updated information about the deadly fighter aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft, and maritime units active in the Mediterranean.
 
Full of in-depth research and featuring essential maps, this is "an intimate introspection by these men of their experiences and the respect that they shared not only for each other but also their adversaries" (The Military Reviewer).

CHAPTER 1

BACKGROUND

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE’S COMMAND STRUCTURE

Command of the RAF in the area termed ‘the Middle East’ divested from 11 June 1940 on the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOCinC), Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, GCB,DSO, who had taken up the appointment as commander of what was already known as ‘Royal Air Force, Middle East’ from Air Chief Marshal Sir William Mitchell as recently as 13 May 1940. At that time the command was essentially responsible only for Egypt, but Longmore’s brief was clear from the start. On the outbreak of war with Italy, he would become liable not just for this country, but for units in Iraq, Aden and British Somaliland, the Sudan, Palestine and Trans-Jordan, and Malta. Additionally, his responsibility would encapsulate any operations which might occur in East Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya), Cyprus, Turkey, the Balkans (Yugoslavia, Greece, Bulgaria and Rumania), and over the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea and Persian Gulf. This was a massive task, which would soon prove to be beyond the abilities of any single commander.

Royal Air Force, Middle East, thus covered potentially a vast area of some four and a half million square miles for which it fielded just 29 squadrons, equipped with around 300 aircraft, most of which were obsolescent if not actually obsolete. Nearly half of this force was based in Egypt for the primary duty of securing the Suez Canal, the main Mediterranean Fleet anchorage and base at Alexandria, and the route via the Red Sea to India and beyond. To aid Longmore in his new role were his Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO), Air Vice-Marshal R.M. ‘Peter’ Drummond, and his Air Officer i/c Administration, Air Vice-Marshal A.C.Maund. His fellow supreme commanders of the other services were, for the army, General Sir Archibald Wavell, who had a similarly wide-ranging area of command, and for the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, who was Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean and East Indies. Fortunately for the purposes of liaison, Longmore’s headquarters were located in the same building in Cairo as were Wavell’s; however, Cunningham insisted in carrying on the naval tradition of living aboard his flagship.

Just as Longmore took up his new and demanding position, the German breakthrough at Sedan was taking place, so soon to lead to the withdrawal of France from the war, and the entry of Italy into the conflict. The operations which followed the latter event and which affected those locations outside Egypt and Libya particularly, have been detailed in other titles in this series (see Malta: the Hurricane Years, 1940-41; Malta: the Spitfire Year, 1942; Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete, 1940-41; and Dust Clouds in the Middle East).

Within RAF, Middle East, Egypt Group had been formed on 18 April 1939 with headquarters at Heliopolis, controlling initially Advanced Wing which incorporated 33, 45, 208 and 211 Squadrons. In command of this very important unit was Air Cdr R.Collishaw, DSO, OBE, DSC, DFC, who had been one of the leading scout (or fighter) pilots of the First World War. Three days after its formation, Grp Capt L.O.Brown, DFC, AFC, arrived from London to become Collishaw’s SASO.

Other units formed around this time were 1 (Bomber) Wing with 14, 30 and 55 Squadrons, 2 (Bomber) Wing with 60, 84 and 113 Squadrons, and the Bomber Transport Wing with 70 and 216 Squadrons. However, the majority of these units were based in Iraq or Trans-Jordan at this time; 60 Squadron was actually in India.

Not included within the establishments of any of these wings at the time the new group was being formed, and initially held for the defence of Alexandria and the Suez Canal, were 80 Squadron which had reached Ishailia from England in May 1938, equipped with Gladiators, and a second fighter unit, 112 Squadron, which had disembarked on arrival from the UK during May 1939. However, once established, this unit would be required to despatch detachments southwards for the defence of Port Sudan.

On 4 August 1939, just prior to the outbreak of war in Europe, but with the threat very present, the units of Advanced Wing moved to their war stations. From Ismailia 33 Squadron went to Qasaba, 45 Squadron to Fuka and 211 Squadron to Daba, while 208 Squadron moved from Heliopolis to Mersa Matruh. All these new bases were on the Egyptian Mediterranean coastline, between the Delta and the frontier with Libya. A month later Grp Capt Brown moved from Heliopolis to HQ, Advanced Wing, at Maaten Bagush as commanding officer. His place as SASO of Egypt Group was taken by Wg Cdr E.B.Addison, OBE.

As the Advanced Wing units moved forward, those of 1 (Bomber) Wing began flying into Ismailia, 14, 30, 55 and 70 Squadrons all arriving there during the latter days of August.

Following the outbreak of war with Germany on 3 September 1939, a wholesale renumbering of units occurred. First, however, on the 18th of that month 201 Group was formed from elements of 86 Wing and the Hal Far (Malta) detachment of that wing. The genesis of this unit was somewhat complicated; originally formed in 1937 as 1 (General Reconnaissance) Wing aboard HMS Cyclops, the depot ship of the 1st Submarine Flotilla, it was shore-based at Kalafrana, Malta, to control flyingboat squadrons seeking to counter Italian submarines operating off the Spanish coast during the civil war in that country. It reformed in the UK on the RAF depot ship MV Dumana on 9 May 1939, and on the same day became 86 Wing for Mediterranean Command. It sailed for Malta, but after arrival there moved on to Alexandria at the start of June 1939. Here 201 Group was formed, but shortly thereafter Dumana and the balance of 86 Wing returned to Malta. Thus the new group was based upon Alexandria, to control all General Reconnaissance (GR) units in Egypt, including disembarked squadrons of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm (FAA). Commanding officer was Grp Capt H.W.G.J.Penderel, who in practice initially had control of no squadrons pending the arrival of units equipped with Sunderland flyingboats.

Three days after the formation of 201 Group, HQ, Egypt, became 202 (Operations) Group, responsible for the control of all RAF operations over the Western Desert. This same date, 21 September 1939, saw the formation of four new wings. These were:

250 (Bomber) Wing – created by the re-numbering of 1 (Bomber) Wing at Ismailia. The wing was to control only 30 and 55 Squadrons, for 14 Squadron was about to depart for Amman in Trans-Jordan, and then for the Sudan.

251 (Bomber) Wing – similarly created by the re-numbering of 2 (Bomber) Wing at Heliopolis; initially this wing controlled only 70 Squadron, for 216 Squadron had been attached directly to HQ, RAF Middle East.

252 (Fighter) Wing – which formed at Fort Shafrakhana for the protection of Cairo, the Nile Delta and the Suez Canal. Initially it only incorporated 80 and 112 Squadrons, though in May 1940, 2 and 5 Squadrons of the Royal Egyptian Air Force also came under its control (at least nominally). Commanded by Wg Cdr C.B.S.Spackman, DFC & Bar, it would be taken over on 8 May 1940 by a notable fighter pilot of World War I, Wg Cdr J.S.T.Fall, DSC & 2 Bars, AFC. On 3 June 1940 a new improvised HQ would be set up at Seagull Camp, Mex, which was located just outside Alexandria.

253 (Bomber) Wing – which was formed by re-numbering Advanced Wing at Maaten Bagush, controlling 33, 45, 208 and 211 Squadrons. This wing would be absorbed into 202 Group on 10 June 1940, just as war was about to break out in the Middle East.

To operate effectively and on a continuing basis, an air force requires a solid back-up of equipment, training and administration, and in this way Egypt Group was already well-provided when war approached. 101 Maintenance Unit (MU) had been set up during 1938 as No 1 Ammunition and Petrol Depot, and was based at Tura. 102 MU, an aircraft storage unit, had been formed at Aboukir. It moved at the start of 1939 to Abu Sueir where it also operated the training and target towing flights. On 12 November 1939 this unit would be re-numbered 103 MU.

1 Middle East Air Stores Park (ASP) had formed at Fuka on 25 August 1939, but on 28 November became 31 ME ASP. A second ASP, No 12, was formed at the end of November 1939 and was attached to 103 MU. In June 1940 51 Repair & Salvage Unit (R & SU) was formed at Fuka to recover aircraft brought down in the Desert, while during the same month an intelligence photographic flight was set up at Heliopolis in great secrecy to undertake aerial surveillance duties. Two experienced reconnaissance officers, Sqn Ldr H.C.Macphail and Flt Lt Walker were despatched from 1 PRU in the UK with a Lockheed 14 fitted for such duties. Much initial work would be undertaken in the preparation photographically of target maps.

Hawker Hurricane I L1669 was the sole example of these relatively modern fighters available to 202 Group, RAF. Known as ‘Colly’s Battleship’, it was employed by Air Cdr Raymond Collishaw to fly in and out of the frontier airfields to give the impression to the Italian intelligence service that he had many more of these aircraft than was in fact the case. It subsequently served with 80 Squadron and then with 274 Squadron.

The services provided by these units became immediately apparent, leading to the formation of further such after the war had commenced. At the start of October 1940 32 ASP would form at Aboukir, together with 53 R & SU. In December 54 R & SU would also come into being at this base, but would accompany 32 ASP to Greece almost at once.

In one other way the command was well-served, and this was in the ready supply of trained aircrew. 4 Flying Training School had been formed at Abu Sueir as long ago as April 1921, many recruits from the UK being sent there to receive their training. This unit was by now producing about 300 new pilots each year. On 1 September 1939 it moved to Habbaniya in Iraq, becoming 4 Service Flying Training School (SFTS). Here it was still well-placed to supply RAF, Middle East, with replacement aircrew, many of them British nationals who had been working in the area at the outbreak of hostilities, or residents of the colonies of North and South Rhodesia, Kenya, Uganda or Tanganyika.

The increasing supply of pilots from this source and other training bases being set up around the world, would lead to the formation of the Middle East’s own operational training unit (OTU), 70 (ME) OTU, at Ismailia on 10 December 1940. The unit was formed from a nucleus created by the incorporation of the Training and Reserve Pool (of which more later). At the same time as the new OTU was coming into operation, a Middle East Pool was also formed at Ismailia to hold fully-trained pilots arriving from the UK until they were allocated to squadrons.

This then was the structure with which RAF, Middle East, faced the onset of war in Egypt with Italy at dusk on 10 June 1940, or which developed from it during the remainder of that year.

Before progressing further, however, it is important to consider the command and control of the army alongside – and above – which the RAF would have to operate. Wavell’s immediate deputy was Lt Gen Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, who was commander of British troops in Egypt. Two days before the Italian declaration of war, the headquarters of 6th Division in Palestine arrived in Egypt under the command of Maj Gen R.N.O’Connor who would take over command of the forces on the frontier, thereby relieving Wilson of the direct responsibility thereof. On 17 June HQ, 6th Division, became HQ, Western Desert Force. Richard O’Connor made a point of establishing an early rapport with Collishaw, whose HQ was located close to his own.

Above: At the outbreak of war in the Middle East, the RAF’s main striking force was formed by four squadrons of Bristol Blenheim light bombers, mainly of the Mark I variety. A formation of nine of these aircraft from 113 Squadron is seen in flight.

Left: The defence of the Egyptian base areas in summer 1940 rested initially in the hands of 80 Squadron. Here Gloster Gladiator YK-K, K7882, of that unit is seen at Ismailia with a Blenheim I in the left background.

Bottom: The Bristol Bombays of 216 Squadron were employed both as transports and night bombers during the early days of the war. Unusually, this unit carried its squadron code letters SH and the individual aircraft letter L in one block on the rear fuselage, rather than divided by the roundel marking as was more usual.

CHAPTER 2

THE OPENING ROUNDS

As war broke out therefore, Collishaw’s 202 Group had based in the area towards the frontier with Libya, a single squadron of Gladiators – 33 (Sqn Ldr D.V.Johnson), which was located at Mersa Matruh, about midway between El Alamein to the east and Sollum, on the frontier to the west. At nearby Qasaba was 208 Squadron (Sqn Ldr R.A.Sprague) with its army co-operation Lysanders, this unit maintaining detachments of these aircraft well forward at Sidi Barrani, out in the Desert at Bir Kanayis, and far to the south at Siwa Oasis. At Fuka and El Daba, on the coast back from Mersa Matruh, were the Blenheim I bombers of 45 (Sqn Ldr J.W.Dallamore) and 211 (Sqn Ldr J.W.B.Judge) Squadrons.

All other units were based well to the east in the inhabited areas of Egypt. Closest to the Desert was 80 Squadron (Sqn Ldr R.C.Jonas), its Gladiators located at Amiriya for the defence of the great naval base at Alexandria, home of the Royal Navy’s Mediterranean Fleet. This unit also had on hand the single Hawker Hurricane fighter available in the Middle East at this time. This was L1669, an early Mark I which had been sent out from England by the Aircraft & Armament Experimental Establishment for Middle East trials; it was soon to gain the nickname ‘Colly’s Battleship’.

Alexandria was also the base of 230 Squadron, equipped with Sunderland flyingboats, commanded by Wg Cdr G.Francis. Here it would be joined by more of these big aircraft of 228 Squadron (Wg Cdr G.E.Nicholetts), this latter unit being posted out to the Mediterranean from Pembroke Dock in South Wales on 10 June, just as war was about to break out. Both these units would maintain detachments at Malta’s Kalafrana seaplane base.

70 Squadron began the North African war still equipped with elderly Vickers Valentia ...

Table of contents

• Coverpage
• Titlepage
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 Background
• Chapter 2 The Opening Rounds
• Chapter 3 Graziani Makes a Move
• Chapter 4 Operation Compass
• Chapter 5 Enter the Luftwaffe
• Chapter 6 Reverses and Reinforcements
• Chapter 7 Cretan Diversion
• Chapter 8 Midsummer Crisis
• Chapter 9 Operation Battleaxe
• Chapter 10 Operation Crusader
• Chapter 11 A New Year Dawns – Darkly
• Chapter 12 The RAF’s Night Bombing Offensive
• Chapter 13 Blitz on Egypt
• Chapter 14 In Defence of Tripoli
• Chapter 15 In Support of the Royal Navy
• Bibliography
• Indices