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{{Short description|Allied tactical air unit during World War II}}
{{lead too short|date=December 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Desert Air Force
|image=Ensign of the Royal Air Force.svg
|image_size=300px
|caption=Ensign of the Royal Air Force
|start_date= 21 October 1941
|country= {{flagdeco|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]] {{flagdeco|Union of South Africa}} [[Union of South Africa|South Africa]] {{flag|Australia}}
|branch=
|type=
|role= [[Tactical air force]]
|size= over 1,500 combat aircraft (late 1942)
|command_structure= [[Air Ministry]]
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|battles= [[World War II|Second World War]]
|anniversaries=
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|colonel_of_the_regiment=
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|notable_commanders= [[Arthur Coningham (RAF officer)|Arthur Coningham]] [[Harry Broadhurst]] [[William Dickson (RAF officer)|William Dickson]]
|identification_symbol=
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}}
{{Campaignbox Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre}}
{{Campaignbox East African Campaign (World War II)}}

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), was an [[Allies of World War II|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 (United Kingdom)|Eighth Army]] against [[Axis powers|Axis forces]]. Throughout the [[World War II|Second World War]], the DAF was made up of [[Squadron (aviation)|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, 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.<ref name="Dear992">Dear & Foot (2005), p. 992</ref> By the time of the [[Second Battle of El Alamein]], the DAF fielded 29 squadrons (including nine South African and three USAAF units) flying [[Douglas A-20 Havoc|Boston]], [[Martin Baltimore|Baltimore]] and [[North American B-25 Mitchell|Mitchell]] medium bombers; [[Hawker Hurricane|Hurricane]], [[Curtiss P-40 Warhawk|Kittyhawk]], Tomahawk, Warhawk and [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire]] fighters and fighter-bombers.<ref name="Dear992"/> There were over 1,500 combat aircraft, more than double the number of aircraft the Axis could field.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

==History==
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 (RAF officer)|William Mitchell]], [[Air Officer Commanding]]-in-Chief Middle East—comprised four separate [[Command (military formation)|commands]]: for [[Kingdom of Egypt|Egypt]] (designated Middle East), [[AHQ Iraq|RAF Iraq]], [[AHQ Malta|Mediterranean]] at [[Crown colony of Malta|Malta]], and [[RAF Aden]] ([[No. 8 Squadron RAF|No. 8]], [[No. 203 Squadron RAF|No. 203]], and [[No. 94 Squadron RAF|No. 94 Squadrons]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://niehorster.org/017_britain/39_raf/_raf_middle-east.html |title=Royal Air Force, Middle East, 3 September 1939 |first=Leo |last=Niehorster |website=World War II Armed Forces, Orders of Battle and Organizations}}</ref> Mitchell handed over to Air Vice Marshal Sir [[Arthur Longmore]] in early May 1940. When [[Fascist Italy (1922–1943)|Italy]] declared war in June 1940, Longmore had just 29 squadrons numbering less than 300 aircraft in the four commands detailed above.

===AHQ Egypt===

On 10 June 1940, RAF bomber squadrons in AHQ Egypt—under the direction of [[No. 202 Group RAF]]—totalled five squadrons of [[Bristol Blenheim]]s, one of [[Vickers Type 264 Valentia|Vickers Valentias]] and one of [[Bristol Bombay]]s.<ref>{{cite book |first=Philip |last=Moyes |date=1964 |title=Bomber Squadrons of the RAF |chapter=Appendix 15 |location=London, UK |publisher=McDonald |page=309}}</ref> The Valentia and Bombay could be used as troop transports or medium bombers.
* HQ 202 Group, [[Maaten Bagush|Ma'aten Bagush]]
** No. 250 Wing RAF, [[Ismailia]]
*** [[No. 30 Squadron RAF]], Blenheim, Ismailia
*** [[No. 55 Squadron RAF]], Blenheim, Fuka
*** [[No. 113 Squadron RAF]], Blenheim, Ma'aten Bagush
** No. 253 Wing RAF, Advanced HQ Ma'aten Bagush
*** [[No. 45 Squadron RAF]], Blenheim, Fuka
*** [[No. 211 Squadron RAF]], Blenheim, Daba
** [[No. 70 Squadron RAF|No. 70 (Bomber-Transport) Squadron RAF]], Valentia, [[Helwan]]
** [[No. 216 Squadron RAF|No. 216 (Bomber-Transport) Squadron RAF]], Bombay, [[Heliopolis (Cairo suburb)|Heliopolis]]

[[File:Hurricane IV KZ321.jpg|thumb|left|Hawker Hurricane in desert camouflage paint scheme]]
AHQ Sudan had 254 Wing with [[No. 14 Squadron RAF|No. 14]], [[No. 223 Squadron RAF|No. 223]] and [[No. 47 Squadron RAF|No. 47]] squadrons, AHQ Aden had [[No. 8 Squadron RAF|No. 8]], [[No. 11 Squadron RAF|No. 11]], and [[No. 39 Squadron RAF|No. 39]] squadrons, and [[No. 84 Squadron RAF]] 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 Squadron RAF|No. 33]], [[No. 80 Squadron RAF|No. 80]], and [[No. 112 Squadron RAF|No. 112 Squadrons]] with [[Gloster Gladiator]]s, [[No. 208 Squadron RAF]] with [[Westland Lysander]]s, four [[Bristol Blenheim|Blenheim]] squadrons (No.s 30, 55, 113, and 211) and No. 216 Squadron RAF with Bombays. With this small force, the RAF had to "equate its attempt to dominate the front line with avoidance of unnecessary losses".<ref>{{cite book |first=John D.R. |last=Rawlings |display-authors=etal |date=1984 |title=The History of the Royal Air Force |location=London, UK |publisher=Temple Press Aerospace |page=93}}</ref> 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 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 the [[Gold Coast (British colony)|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 (RAF officer)|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 Squadron RAF|No. 73]] and [[No. 274 Squadron RAF|No. 274 Squadrons]] with Hurricanes and [[No. 37 Squadron RAF|No. 37]] and [[No. 38 Squadron RAF|No. 38 Squadrons]] with [[Vickers Wellington]]s, as well as several [[South African Air Force]] squadrons, ready for 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."<ref>Rawlings et al., 1984, p.94</ref>

On 19 April 1941, RAF [[No. 204 Group RAF|No. 204 Group]] was created under the command of Air Commodore Raymond Collishaw and consisted of:
* [[No. 73 Squadron RAF|No. 73 Squadron]] (Hurricanes) at Tobruk
* [[No. 274 Squadron RAF|No. 274 Squadron]] (Hurricanes) at Gerawla
* [[No. 14 Squadron RAF|No. 14 Squadron]] (Blenheim IVs and Marauders) at Burg el Arab
* Detachment of [[No. 39 Squadron RAF|No. 39 Squadron]] ([[Martin Maryland|Marylands]]) at Maaten Baggash
* Detachment of [[No. 24 Squadron SAAF]] (Marylands) at Fuka
* [[No. 45 Squadron RAF|No. 45 Squadron]] (Blenheim IVs) at Fuka
* [[No. 55 Squadron RAF|No. 55 Squadron]] (Blenheim IVs) at Zimla
* [[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]] (Hurricanes and Lysanders) at Tobruk.<ref>Vol.II of the Official History</ref>

On 30 July 1941, Collishaw handed over No. 204 Group to Coningham. Later that year, [[RAF Middle East Command]] came under the command of Air Marshal Sir [[Arthur Tedder]]. On 21 October 1941, '''Air Headquarters Western Desert''' was created by upgrading [[No. 204 Group RAF|204 Group]] to command status.

Three wings operated in North Africa at first, [[No. 258 Wing RAF|258]] and [[No. 269 Wing RAF|269]] Wings operated over the front line and [[No. 262 Wing RAF|262]] Wing defended the Nile Delta.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.australiansatwarfilmarchive.gov.au/aawfa/campaigns/Desert_Airforce.html |title=The Australians at War Film Archive – 25 |access-date=4 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830035925/http://australiansatwarfilmarchive.gov.au/aawfa/campaigns/Desert_Airforce.html |archive-date=30 August 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On 20 January 1942, the command was renamed '''Air Headquarters Libya'''; however, on 3 February it reverted to its former name of the Air Headquarters Western Desert.

===Western Desert Air Force===
Between 18 November 1941 to 19 May 1942 the A.H.Q. Western Desert was organised as:<ref>National Archive London AIR 23 / 6200 APPENDIX "C", R.A.F. Operations in the Western Desert and Eastern Mediterranean, 18th November 1941 to 19th May 1942 HPE</ref>

'''A.H.Q. Western Desert''' – [[Maaten Bagush]]
* [[No. 30 Squadron RAF|No. 30 Squadron]] (Hurricanes)
* [[No. 33 Squadron RAF|No. 33 Squadron]] (Hurricanes)
* [[60 Squadron SAAF|No. 60 Squadron SAAF]] (Marylands)
* [[No. 80 Squadron RAF|No. 80 Squadron]] (Hurricanes)
* [[No. 113 Squadron RAF|No. 113 Squadron]] (Blenheim Fighter)
* [[No. 223 Squadron RAF|No. 223 Squadron]] (Marylands)
* [[No. 272 Squadron RAF|No. 272 Squadron]] (Beaufighter)
* [[805 Squadron RAN|No. 805 Squadron FAA]] (Martlets)
* [[815 Naval Air Squadron|No. 815 Squadron FAA]] (Swordfish and Albacores)
* [[826 Naval Air Squadron|No. 826 Squadron FAA]] (Albacores)

'''261 Wing'''
* [[No. 11 Squadron RAF|No. 11 Squadron]] (Blenheims)
* [[12 Squadron SAAF|No. 12 Squadron SAAF]] (Marylands)
* [[21 Squadron SAAF|No. 21 Squadron SAAF]] (Marylands)
* [[24 Squadron SAAF|No. 24 Squadron SAAF]] (Bostons)

'''270 Wing'''
* [[No. 8 Squadron RAF|No. 8 Squadron]] (Blenheims)
* [[No. 14 Squadron RAF|No. 14 Squadron]] (Blenheims)
* [[No. 45 Squadron RAF|No. 45 Squadron]] (Blenheims)
* [[No. 55 Squadron RAF|No. 55 Squadron]] (Blenheims)
* [[No. 84 Squadron RAF|No. 84 Squadron]] (Blenheims)
* French Squadron ''Lorraine'' (Blenheims)

'''253 Wing'''
* [[No. 208 Squadron RAF|No. 208 Squadron]] (Hurricanes)
* [[No. 237 Squadron RAF|No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron]] (Hurricanes)
* [[No. 451 Squadron RAAF]] (Hurricanes)

'''258 Wing'''
* [[2 Squadron SAAF|No. 2 Squadron SAAF]] (Tomahawks)
* [[No. 3 Squadron RAAF]] (Tomahawks)
* [[4 Squadron SAAF|No. 4 Squadron SAAF]] (Tomahawks)
* [[No. 112 Squadron RAF|No. 112 Squadron]] (Tomahawks)
* [[No. 250 Squadron RAF|No. 250 Squadron]] (Tomahawks)
* RN Squadron (Marine Tomahawks)

'''262 Wing'''
* [[1 Squadron SAAF|No. 1 Squadron SAAF]] (Hurricanes)
* No. 94 Squadron SAAF (Hurricanes)
* [[No. 229 Squadron RAF|No. 229 Squadron]] (Hurricanes)
* [[No. 238 Squadron RAF|No. 238 Squadron]] (Hurricanes)
* [[No. 260 Squadron RAF|No. 260 Squadron]] (Hurricanes)
* [[No. 274 Squadron RAF|No. 274 Squadron]] (Hurricanes)

Western Desert Air Force (WDAF) was organised on 27 October 1942 as:<ref>Playfair, Vol. IV, Appendix 8 (a).</ref>

Subordinated to General Headquarters RAF Middle East (GHQ RAF Middle East)
* [[No. 3 Wing SAAF|No. 3 South African Air Force (SAAF) Bomber Wing]]
** [[12 Squadron SAAF]] (24 × [[Martin Maryland]]s)
** [[21 Squadron SAAF]] (24 × [[Martin Baltimore]]s I,II & III)
** [[24 Squadron SAAF]] (24 × [[Douglas Boston]] III)
* [[No. 232 Wing RAF|No. 232 Bomber Wing]]
** [[No. 55 Squadron RAF]] (24 × Baltimores I, II & III)
** [[No. 223 Squadron RAF]] (24 × Baltimores I, II & III)
** [[82nd Bombardment Squadron]] USAAF (12 × Mitchell B-25C)
** [[83rd Bombardment Squadron]] USAAF (12 × Mitchell B-25C)
** [[434th Bombardment Squadron]] USAAF (12 × Mitchell B-25C)
* [[No. 285 Wing RAF|No. 285 Reconnaissance Wing]]
** [[No. 680 Squadron RAF|No. 2 PRU Squadron RAF]] (Photo Reconnaissance) (Spitfire VB)
** [[No. 40 Squadron SAAF|40 Squadron SAAF]] (Tactical Reconnaissance) (18 × Hurricane I/II/A/B)
** [[No. 60 Squadron SAAF|60 Squadron SAAF]] (Photo Reconnaissance) (12 × Marylands)
** [[No. 208 Squadron RAF]] (Tactical Reconnaissance) (18 × Hurricane IIA/B)
** [[No. 1437 Flight RAF]] (Strategic Reconnaissance) (8 × Baltimores I, II & III)

[[File:The Royal Air Force in Tunisia, May 1943 TR975.2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Curtiss P-40 Warhawk|Kittyhawks]] of [[No. 112 Squadron RAF]] prepare to take off in Tunisia.]]
* [[No. 211 Group RAF|No. 211 Group]]
** [[7 Squadron SAAF]] (anti-tank) (16 × Hurricane IID)
** [[No. 6 Squadron RAF]] (anti-tank) (16 × Hurricane IID)
** [[64th Aggressor Squadron|64th Fighter Squadron USAAF]] (25 × P-40F Warhawks)
** [[65th Aggressor Squadron|65th Fighter Squadron USAAF]] (25 × P-40F Warhawks)
** [[No. 233 Wing RAF|No. 233 Wing]]
*** [[2 Squadron SAAF]] (16 × Kittyhawks I, II & III)
*** [[4 Squadron SAAF]] (16 × Kittyhawks I, II & III)
*** [[5 Squadron SAAF]] (16 × Tomahawks)
*** [[No. 260 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Kittyhawks I & IIb)
** [[No. 239 Wing RAF|No. 239 Wing]]
*** [[No. 3 Squadron RAAF]] (16 × Kittyhawk I, II & III)
*** [[No. 112 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Kittyhawk IA)
*** [[No. 250 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Kittyhawk IIA)
*** [[No. 450 Squadron RAAF]] (16 × Kittyhawk)
*** [[66th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron|66th Fighter Squadron USAAF]] (25 × P-40F Warhawks)
** [[No. 244 Wing RAF|No. 244 Wing]]
*** [[No. 145 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Spitfires Vb)
*** [[No. 601 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Spitfires Vb)
*** [[No. 73 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Hurricane IIc)
*** [[No. 92 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Spitfires Vb/c)
* [[No. 212 Group RAF|No. 212 Group]]
** [[No. 243 Wing RAF|No. 243 Wing]]
*** [[1 Squadron SAAF]] (16 × Hurricane IIc)
*** [[No. 33 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Hurricane IIc)
*** [[No. 213 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Hurricane IIc)
*** [[No. 238 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Hurricane IIc)
** [[No. 7 Wing RAF|No. 7 Wing]]
*** [[No. 80 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Hurricane IIc)
*** [[No. 127 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Hurricane IIb)
*** [[335th Bomber Squadron (HAF)|No. 335 (Greek) Squadron RAF]] (16 × Hurricane IIb)
*** [[No. 274 Squadron RAF]] (16 × Hurricane IIb)
** Early in 1943 that squadron was renamed [[No. 462 Squadron RAAF]] (note Australian) despite mainly British personnel.
** The squadron was disbanded in June 1943 but a new Australian 462 Squadron was formed late in 1943 with mainly Australian personnel.

;US Desert Air Task Force
(Part of [[United States Army Middle East Air Force]] but with exception of 81st Bombardment Squadron, under WDAF operational control):
* [[57th Fighter Group|57th Fighter Group USAAF]]
** [[64th Aggressor Squadron|64th]], [[65th Aggressor Squadron|65th]], and [[66th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron|66th Fighter Squadrons]] with P-40F Warhawks detached to RAF (see above).
* [[12th Bombardment Group|12th Bombardment Group USAAF]]
** 82nd, 83rd, and 434th Bombardment Squadrons with B-25C Mitchells detached to RAF (see above).
** [[81st Bombardment Squadron]] not detached to RAF
* Air Ambulance Squadron
* 835th Aviation Engineer Battalion

===Allied restructuring===
In January 1943, British Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]], American President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], and their staffs reorganised the [[Allies of World War II|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.<ref>Playfair, Vol. IV, pp. 271 & 272.</ref> On 18 February 1943, the [[Mediterranean Air Command]] (MAC) was established with Air Chief Marshal [[Sir Arthur Tedder]] in charge of all Allied air forces in the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations]] (MTO).<ref name="Molony72">Molony, p. 72.</ref>
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 Group RAF|No. 211 (Offensive Fighter) Group]] with Spitfires:'''
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
![[No. 244 Wing RAF|No. 244 Wing]]
![[No. 322 Wing RAF|No. 322 Wing]]
![[No. 324 Wing RAF|No. 324 Wing]]
|-
|[[1 Squadron SAAF]]
|[[No. 81 Squadron RAF|No. 81 Squadron]]
|[[No. 72 Squadron RAF|No. 72 Squadron]] (RAF)
|-
|[[No. 92 Squadron RAF|No. 92 Squadron]] (RAF)
|[[No. 154 Squadron RAF|No. 154 Squadron]] (RAF)
|[[No. 93 Squadron RAF|No. 93 Squadron]] (RAF)
|-
|[[No. 417 Squadron RCAF|No. 417 Squadron]] (RCAF)
|[[No. 232 Squadron RAF|No. 232 Squadron]] (RAF)
|[[No. 111 Squadron RAF|No. 111 Squadron]] (RAF)
|-
|[[No. 601 Squadron RAF|No. 601 Squadron]] (RAF) ''Sqn. Ldr. [[Stanisław Skalski]]''
|[[No. 242 Squadron RAF|No. 242 Squadron]] (RAF)
|[[No. 152 Squadron RAF|No. 152 Squadron]] (RAF)
|-
|[[No. 145 Squadron RAF|No. 145 Squadron]](RAF) Polish Fighting Team P.F.T. Flight "C" "Skalski Circus"
|[[No. 43 Squadron RAF|No. 43 Squadron]] (RAF)
|[[No. 243 Squadron RAF|No. 243 Squadron]] (RAF)
|}

Other ''Advanced'' units included:
* [[40 Squadron SAAF|40 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, SAAF]] (Spitfires)
* 1/2 [[No. 600 Squadron RAF|No. 600 Squadron]] (TEF/N) operating on Malta under A.O.C. Malta (Beaufighters)
* [[No. 325 Wing RAF]] (Beaufighters)
** 1/2 No. 600 Squadron
** [[No. 153 Squadron RAF|No. 153 Squadron]] (TEF/N) operating from North Africa

'''Rear Headquarters, Desert Air Force.'''
Operating from Tripoli Area
{|
|-
![[No. 239 Wing RAF]] (Kittyhawks)
![[57th Fighter Group]] USAAF (P-40s)
![[79th Fighter Group]] USAAF (P-40s)
|-
|[[No. 3 Squadron RAAF]]
|[[64th Fighter Squadron|64th Squadron]]
|[[85th Fighter Squadron|85th Squadron]]
|-
|[[No. 112 Squadron RAF]]
|[[65th Fighter Squadron|65th Squadron]]
|[[86th Fighter Squadron|86th Squadron]]
|-
|[[No. 450 Squadron RAAF]]
|[[66th Fighter Squadron|66th Squadron]]
|[[87th Fighter Squadron|87th Squadron]]
|-
|[[No. 250 Squadron RAF]]
|
|-
|[[No. 260 Squadron RAF]]
|}
* [[No. 285 Wing RAF]] (Reconnaissance)
** [[No. 1437 Flight RAF]] (SR) (Baltimores)
** [[60 Squadron SAAF]]
** [[No. 682 Squadron RAF]]
(60 and 682 were Photographic Reconnaissance (PR) squadrons assigned from the [[Northwest African Photographic Reconnaissance Wing]])
* Other RAF units
** [[No. 6 Squadron RAF|No. 6 Squadron]] (TD) (Hurricane IIDs)
** [[No. 249 Wing RAF|No. 249 Air Transport Wing]]

DAF continued to provide close tactical support to the British [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|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 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.

==Aircraft==
[[File:TR 000978 kittyhawk.jpg|thumb|1943: A Kittyhawk from [[No. 112 Squadron RAF]], taxiing through scrub at [[Medenine]], Tunisia. The squadron was the first unit in any air force to use the "shark mouth" logo on P-40s.]]

The air defence of Britain always received priority, so 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 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 the faster [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]]s of [[Jagdgeschwader 27|''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 the ''Luftwaffe'' concept of tactical air support by using fighter-bombers linked via radio to "[[Forward air control]]lers" attached to Army units. The DAF improved the concept by introducing "[[Queue area|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 the latter part of the North African campaign were adopted with even greater success during the [[Invasion of Europe]] in 1944.

==Personnel==
[[File:Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943 CM2505.jpg|thumb|March/April 1942, Landing Ground 121, [[Egypt]]. Lieutenant Robin Pare (left), Major [[John Frost (pilot)|John "Jack" Frost]] (centre) and Captain Andrew Duncan (right) of [[5 Squadron SAAF]], Desert Air Force. All three were killed or missing in action by the end of June. Frost, the squadron commander, was the highest scoring [[flying ace|ace]] in an SAAF unit during the Second World War.]]

The [[South African Air Force|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 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, 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".<ref>Craven & Cate, p. 27, 28</ref> This was technically a violation of the [[Arnold-Portal-Towers agreement]], which included a stipulation that American personnel should serve only in US units.<ref>Craven & Cate, p.33</ref> From mid-September, the P-40 Warhawk squadrons of the 57th FG and the [[North American B-25 Mitchell|B-25]] squadrons of the 12th BG were officially attached to DAF units.<ref>Craven & Cate, p. 35</ref> On 12 November 1942, USAMEAF was dissolved and replaced by the [[Ninth Air Force|9th Air Force]], although some US units remained with Commonwealth formations for some time.

British and Commonwealth personnel who served with the DAF were awarded the [[Africa Star]] campaign medal with the clasp 'North Africa 1942–43', denoted by a silver rosette when only ribbons were worn.

==Commanders==
[[File:Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal talking to Air Vice-Marshal Dickson in Italy.jpg|thumb|Air Chief Marshal Sir [[Charles Portal, 1st Viscount Portal of Hungerford|Charles Portal]], [[Chief of the Air Staff (United Kingdom)|Chief of the Air Staff]], in conversation with Air Vice-Marshal [[William Dickson (RAF officer)|William Dickson]], AOC Desert Air Force, 28 August 1944]]

The following were the air officers commanding either the Air Headquarters Western Desert or the Desert Air Force:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rafweb.org/Organsation/Cmd_O2.htm |title=Overseas Commands - Middle East & Mediterranean |website=Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation}}</ref>
* AHQ Western Desert
** 21 October 1941 [[Air Vice-Marshal]] [[Arthur Coningham (RAF officer)|Arthur Coningham]] (also AOC AHQ Libya)
** 31 January 1943 Air Vice-Marshal [[Harry Broadhurst]]
* Desert Air Force
** 10 July 1943 Air Vice-Marshal Broadhurst
** 6 April 1944 Air Vice-Marshal [[William Dickson (RAF officer)|William Dickson]]
** 3 December 1944 Air Vice-Marshal [[Robert Foster (RAF officer)|Robert Foster]]
** 30 August 1945 [[Air Commodore]] [[Colin Falconer (RAF officer)|Colin Falconer]]

==See also==
{{Commons category|Desert Air Force}}
* [[Balkan Air Force]]
* [[List of North African airfields during World War II]]
* [[List of Royal Air Force commands]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book|first=Chaz|last=Bowyer|title=Men of the Desert Air Force, 1940–43|publisher=William Kimber|year=1984|isbn=0-7183-0539-6}}
* {{cite book|first1=Chaz|last1=Bowyer|last2=Shores |first2=Christopher|title=Desert Air Force at War| publisher=Ian Allan|year=1981|isbn=0-7110-1154-0}}
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WCm7Lh5UbjUC|first=Wesley Frank|last=Craven|editor=Cate, James Lea|title=The Army Air Forces in World War II: Torch to Pointblank (August 1942 to December 1943)|volume=II|year=1983|orig-year=1949|series=US Official history|publisher=Diane Books|isbn=1-4289-1587-7}}
* {{cite book|first=I.C.B.|last=Dear|editor=Foot, M.R.D.|title=The Oxford Companion to World War II|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2005|orig-year=1995|isbn=0-19-280666-1}}
* {{cite book|first=John|last=Herington|series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/chapter.asp?volume=28|volume=III|title=Air War Against Germany and Italy, 1939–1943|year=1954|location=Canberra|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=22 January 2008|archive-date=26 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226004823/http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/chapter.asp?volume=28|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book|first=Army Air Forces|last=Historical Office Headquarters|title=Participation of the Ninth & Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, Army Air Forces Historical Study No. 37| publisher=Army Air Forces Historical Office, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama|year=1945}}
* {{cite book|first=Maurer|last=Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|url=https://archive.org/details/AirForceCombatUnitsOfWorldWarIi|publisher=Office of Air Force History, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama|year=1983|isbn=9780912799025}}
* {{cite book|first3=Major-General H.L.|last3=Davies|last2=with Flynn|first2=Captain F.C. (RN)| last1=Molony|first1=Brigadier C.J.C.|last4=Gleave|first4=Group Captain T.P.|editor-last=Butler| editor-first=Sir James|editor-link=James Ramsay Montagu Butler|series=History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series|title=The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Campaign in Sicily 1943 and The Campaign in Italy 3rd September 1943 to 31st March 1944 Part 1 |volume=V|publisher= Naval & Military Press|location=Uckfield, UK|year=2004|orig-year=1st. pub. [[HMSO]]:1973|isbn= 1-84574-069-6|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|first1=Major-General I.S.O.|last1=Playfair|author-link1=Ian Stanley Ord Playfair|last3= with Flynn|first3=Captain F.C. (R.N.)|last2=Molony|first2=Brigadier C.J.C.|last4=Gleave|first4= Group Captain T.P.|editor-last=Butler|editor-first=Sir James|editor-link=James Ramsay Montagu Butler|series=History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series|title=The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Destruction of the Axis Forces in Africa |volume=IV |publisher= Naval & Military Press|location=Uckfield, UK|year=2004|orig-year=1st. pub. [[HMSO]]:1966|isbn= 1-84574-068-8|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|first=Christopher|last=Shores|author2=Williams, Clive|title=Aces High|publisher= Grub Street|year=1991 }}
* {{cite book|first=Don|last=Woerpel|title=A Hostile Sky: The Mediterranean Air War of the 79th Fighter Group|publisher=Andon Press|year=1977|oclc=3294390}}
{{Refend}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Royal Air Force overseas commands]]
[[Category:Western Desert campaign]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the Royal Air Force in World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1946]]
[[Category:Tactical air forces]]

Desert Air Force - Revision history

Bot at 10:29, 17 October 2022