The Desert Air Force (DAF), later known as the First Tactical Air Force, was an Allied tactical air force formed during World War II. The DAF was formed in North Africa to provide close air support to the Eighth Army. It was made up of squadrons from the Royal Air Force (RAF), the South African Air Force (SAAF), the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). Many individual personnel from other Allied air forces also took part. The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War. ... The term Tactical Air Force was used by the air forces of the British Commonwealth during the later stages of World War II, for formations of more than one fighter group. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, generally divided by the formidable barrier of the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa. ... An Apache attack helicopter provides close air support to United States Army soldiers patrolling the Tigris River southeast of Baghdad, Iraq during the Iraq War. ... The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations in World War II, fighting in the campaigns in North Africa and Italy. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The South African Air Force roundel The South African Air Force (SAAF) (Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag) is the air force of South Africa. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was a part of the U.S. Army during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ...

Precursor formations and establishment

Prior to the establishment of the Desert Air Force, several RAF formations operated in North Africa. The first such formation at command level was formed on 21 October 1941 as the Air Headquarters Western Desert by raising 204 Group to command status. On 20 January 1942 the command was renamed Air Headquarters Libya however less than two weeks later on 3 February it reverted to its former name of the Air Headquarters Western Desert. A command in military organization is a collection of units or a group of personnel under the control of a single officer. ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... January 20 is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

On 10 July 1943, the Desert Air Force was created by renaming the Air Headquarters Western Desert. The Desert Air Force was a subordinate element of the Northwest/Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force. It existed until 30 June 1946 when it was renamed the Advanced AHQ Italy. During WWII, it was popularly known as the ‘Desert Air Force’. is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Composition and Operations

The air defence of Great Britain always received priority so the DAF was generally equipped with older aircraft types. Initially equipped with obsolete types like the Gloster Gladiator biplane, the DAF made a good showing against the equally obsolete Italian Air Force. After the direct threat to Great Britain receded, newer types were assigned to the DAF such as the Hawker Hurricane in 1941.

The American made P-40 Tomahawk / Kittyhawk 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 P40 wasn't much of an air superiority fighter but it was ideally suited to ground attack missions.

The DAF always outnumbered its Axis opponents but made quite heavy weather of fighting against them. Despite being able to deploy more than 200 fighters against less than 40 Messerschmitt Bf-109s in 1941, the Luftwaffe generally got the better of the DAF. The DAF received a lot of criticism as a result and was derisively known by the ground soldiers as the 'RAF' or 'Rare as Fairies'.

Their poor reputation was mainly due to their tactics. The DAF focused on interdiction, e.g. attacking Axis supply lines and their infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Luftwaffe focused on close air support so the British and Commonwealth soldiers would often be attacked by enemy planes while rarely seeing their own aircraft.

In 1942, the DAF finally reorganized its tactics and upgraded its inventory. Spitfires were eventually assigned to the DAF in the air superiority role, becoming operational in August 1942 which allowed the DAF to finally turn the tide.

The DAF copied the Luftwaffe concept of tactical air support and Army co-operation by using fighter-bombers controlled via radio by "Forward Air Controllers" which were trained air force observers attached to Army units. Although practiced by the Germans since 1938, this was revolutionary stuff for the hide-bound British military establishment. The DAF then improved the concept by introducing "cab ranks" of fighter-bombers awaiting the call-in to attack specific tactical targets. In this way the DAF provided vital and decisive air support to the Eighth Army until the end of the war, fighting through 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 subsequently adopted with even greater success during the invasion of Europe in 1944.

Commonwealth and Allied contributions

The South African Air Force 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.

The Australian contribution included 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 kills). Many Australian pilots also flew with RAF squadrons in the DAF.

Many foreign personnel also flew in RAF squadrons such as Polish pilots in 145 Squadron a.k.a. the Polish Fighting Team or Skalski's Circus. Personnel who served with the Desert Air Force were awarded the Africa Star campaign medal with a bronze rosette in the "bar" position on the ribbon.

The USAAF provided substantial support for the DAF until it established its 9th Air Force in the North African/Mediterranean theathre. Two fighter groups (the 57th and the 79th) flying P40 Warhawks and 1 medium bomber group flying the B25 served with the from mid 1942 onwards until gradually reverting to 9th AF command.

Strength

The DAF initially numbered less than 50 aircraft but rapidly doubled in size by late 1940 after Italy invaded Egypt. In 1941, the DAF grew in bounds to approximately 1,000 combat aircraft. By the time of the Second battle of El Alamein, the DAF fielded over 1,500 combat aircraft which more than double the number of aircraft the Axis could field.

Commanders

The following were the air officers commanding either the Air Headquarters Western Desert or the Desert Air Force:[1]

AHQ Western Desert

• 21 October 1941 Air Vice-Marshal A Coningham (also AOC AHQ Libya)
• 31 January 1943 Air Vice-Marshal H Broadhurst

October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... An Air Vice Marshals sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Vice Marshal is the third most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the inactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ... Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham KCB KBE DSO MC DFC AFC RAF (11 March 1895 – 29 or 30 January 1948) was a senior Royal Air Force commander. ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Air Chief Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst GCB KBE DSO with Bar DFC with Bar AFC RAF (28 October 1905 – 29 August 1995), commonly known as Broady, was a senior Royal Air Force commander. ...

Desert Air Force

• 10 July 1943 Air Vice-Marshal H Broadhurst
• 6 April 1944 Air Vice-Marshal W F Dickson
• 3 December 1944 Air Vice-Marshal R M Foster
• 30 August 1945 Air Commodore C L Falconer

is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir William Forster Dickson, GCB, KBE, DSO, AFC (24 September 1898–12 September 1987) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... August 30 is the 242nd day of the year (243rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1945and died 2007 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... An Air Commodoress sleeve/shoulder insignia Air Commodore is the fourth most senior rank active in the Royal Air Force today, after the deactivation of Marshal of the Royal Air Force as a substantive rank in peacetime during defence cuts of the 1990s. ...

References

• Don Woerpel, The 79th Fighter Group
• Chaz Bowyer, Christopher Shores, Desert Air Force at War(Ian Allen , 1981)
• Christopher Shores, Clive Williams, Aces High (Grub Street, 1991)
• Chaz Bowyer, Men of the Desert Air Force (Wm Kimber, 1984)