No. 253 (AC) WING (HQ at Ghot Wahas) Absorbed by AHQ WD, later in November, 1941)
Nos. 208; 451 (RAAF)
Sidi Barrani
Hurricane I
Tac. R.
No. 237 (Rhodesian)
Gerawla
Hurricane I
Tac. R.
No. 258 Wing (HQ at Bir Khamsa)†
Nos. 1 (SAAF); 94
Maaten Baggush
Hurricane IIA/B; I
SE-F.
Nos. 2 (SAAF); 3 (RAAF);
Sidi Haneish
Tomahawk
SE-F.
238
Hurricane IIA/B
SE-F.
No. 274
Fuka
Hurricane IIA/B
SE-F.
No. 262 Wing (HQ at Sidi Haneish)†
Nos. 4 (SAAF); 112; 250;
Sidi Haneish
Tomahawk
SE-F.
229
Hurricane IIA/B
SE-F.
No. 80 (Began operations on 20/11/41)
Fuka
Hurricane I
FB
No. 260
Maaten Baggush
Hurricane I
SE-F.
No. 269 Wing (HQ at Sidi Haneish)†
No. 30
Sidi Haneish
Hurricane I/IIA/B
SE-F.
RN(F) (FAA)
Hurricane I
SE-F.
No. 3 (SAAF) Wing (HQ at Maaten Baggush)
No. 11
Maaten Baggush
Blenheim IV
LB
No. 12 (SAAF)
El Daba
Maryland
LB
No. 21 (SAAF)
Qotafiya
Maryland
LB
No. 24 (SAAF) (Employed on reconnaissance until December, 1941)
Fuka
Boston III
LB
No. 270 Wing (HQ at FUKA)
Nos. 8 (One Flt. det. from ADEN); 45; 55 (No. 55 at disposal of WDAF for short time only)
Fuka
Blenheim IV
L.B
Nos. 14; 84
Maaten Baggush
Blenheim IV
LB
Lorraine (Free French)
Abu Sueir
Blenheim IV
LB
* Available to reinforce WDAF in support of CRUSADER, but not under its control.
† Shortly before CRUSADER the fighter wings were reorganised so that No. 262 Wing became
entirely composed of Hurricane squadrons (Nos. t (SAAF), 94, 229, 238, 260 and 274) and No. 258 Wing of Tomahawk
squadrons (Nos. 2 (SAAF), 3 (RAAF), 4 (SAAF), 112 and 250) together with the Hurricanes of the RN(F) Squadron. Nos. 30
and 80 squadrons came directly under AHQ, WD, and HQ No. 269 Wing eventually came under the control of No. 201 Group as
HQ No. 234 Wing. Both Nos. 262 and 258 Fighter Wings were then concentrated in the Bir Khamsa area on the eye of the
offensive.
1. The above Order of Battle does not include the many administrative and ground units of all kinds
supporting the flying squadrons, such as maintenance and repair and salvage units; supply and transport columns; radar
and wireless observer units; signal units; and RAF armoured car companies. Because of the absence of large civilian
industries the RAF in the Middle East had to be almost entirely self-sufficient for repair and other technical
requirements. Poor landline facilities coupled with the vast distances traversing the theatre also involved a very heavy
signals commitment, and the RAF had to provide its own substitute for the Observer Corps, too. Some idea of the
additional effort involved can be gained from the following figures. Of the total RAF strength in the Middle East in
September, 1941, of nearly 57,000 officers and men, nearly 7,000 were absorbed in unloading and erecting aircraft at
their arrival ports and flying them to Egypt, the great majority across Africa; 6,500 alone were absorbed in providing
signal communications; and the observer and warning systems employed a further 3,700. Besides these, and excluding the
flying squadrons themselves, there was a variety of other essential units employing large numbers of men.
2. Bomber aircraft were re-classified early in the period covered by this volume—see page
93.
Available to reinforce WDAF, but not under its control
No. 205 GROUP (HQ AT ISMAILIA)
No. 231 Wing (HQ at QOTAFIYA)
Nos. 37; 70; 108
El Daba
Wellington IC
MB
(No. 108 also had Liberator II aircraft which were not available for tactical
operations)
No. 236 Wing (HQ at EL DABA)
Nos. 104 (Less det. in MALTA); 148
El Daba
Wellington II; IC
MB
No. 238 Wing (HQ at Shallufa)
No. 38 (Less TB aircraft)
Maaten Baggush
Wellington IC
MB
No. 40
Shallufa
Wellington IC
MB
Sqdns. of No. 201 (NC) Group (HQ at Alexandria)
Nos. 252; 272
Qasaba
Beaufighter IC
LR-TE-F.
Nos. 821 (FAA); 826 (FAA)
Maaten Baggush
Albacore
TB
(Nos. 821 and 826 employed on night reconnaissance and bombing in forward area when supporting
operations in the Desert)
Note: Prior to the Battle of Gazala it became the policy for all aircraft of the WDAF fighter force
to be equipped for the alternative role of fighter-bomber. Owing to lack of materials only four squadrons (one of
Hurricanes and three of Kittyhawks) had been converted to a dual role by 26th May, 1942.
Available to reinforce WDAF, but not under its control
Sqdns. of No. 205 group (HQ at Ismailia)
No. 231 Wing (HQ at Abu Sueir)
Nos. 37; 70
Abu Sueir
Wellington IC
MB
No. 236 Wing (HQ at Jebel Hamzi)
Nos. 108; 148
Jebel Hamzi
Wellington IC
MB
No. 238 Wing (HQ at Kabrit)
Nos. 40; 104
Kabrit
Wellington IC; II
MB
Sqdns. of No. 201 (NC) Group (HQ at Alexandria)
Nos. 252; 272
Idku
Beaufighter IC/VIF
LR-TE-F.
Nos. 821 (FAA)
Dekheila
Albacore
TB
Nos. 826 (FAA)
Albacore
TB
(Nos. 821 and 826 employed on night reconnaissance and bombing in forward area when
supporting operations in the Desert)
Note: No. 73 Squadron had been employed almost exclusively in a night-fighter role since early
1942. Prior to the Battle of Alam el Halfa all the remaining Hurricane squadrons were trained for the alternative role
of night-fighter to support No. 73 Squadron in the event of enemy airborne attack on airfields.