crazymainer
January 15, 2005 at 3:10 pm

Hi I'm Looking for………….

Hi All,

I’m in the process of doing some research and have hit a wall so hey I thought I’ll try here.

I need to know the following information or a place to find said information.

1 Italian Air Base in North Africa and Libya a map and units would be nice

2 Did the Free French Force have their own base in North Africa and Libya if so where and the units

3 Besides the RAF what other Commenwealth wher in North Africa and Libya

Thanks in advance

Cheers
RER

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By: JDK - 16th January 2005 at 01:09

Thanks, so its safe to say that The Commenwealth stuff wher bunch together.

Er, what? They were part of the Allied forces, yes. And what Dave says about the RNZAF can apply to all the Commonwealth forces. (A few Yanks were alowed to join in, if they played properly, and didn’t chew gum.) But they weren’t a British Commonwealth division or anything…
Cheers,

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By: Dave Homewood - 16th January 2005 at 00:32

There were RNZAF personnel in almost every RAF squadron in the war, so many RNZAF men served in the African campaign, but the only actual RNZAF unit that served there was No. 490 (NZ) Sqn which was only in East Africa, with Catalinas and later Sunderlands

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By: crazymainer - 15th January 2005 at 23:05

Hi Martin and Alex,

Thanks, so its safe to say that The Commenwealth stuff wher bunch together.

Cheers
RER

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By: Swiss Mustangs - 15th January 2005 at 15:47

3 Besides the RAF what other Commenwealth wher in North Africa and Libya

Rob

there were RNZAF, SAAF and RAAF units (attached to and operational with RAF) in that theatre. Also a Polish outfit (“Skalski’s Circus”) operated Spitfires under RAF control.

from memory:

No. 5 Sqdn (SAAF)
No. 3 Sqdn (RAAF)
No. 450 Sqdn (RAAF)

there were more.
Martin

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By: Alex Crawford - 15th January 2005 at 15:45

Hi,

Not sure about the first two but 3 RAAF Sqn operated in North Africa and a number of SAAF sqns did likewise, not sure on sqn numbers. The FAA also operated ground squadrons in North Africa. I’m sure there must also have been RCAF Squadrons there are well.

Rhodesia had a unit in East Africa which became 237 Sqn.

Alex