Northwest African Coastal Air Force
The Northwest African Coastal Air Force (NACAF) was a specialized functional command of the combined Northwest African Air Forces. The Mediterranean Air Command (MAC) oversaw the combined air forces until superseded by the MAAF.
The NACAF had responsibility for air defense of North Africa, sea/air reconnaissance, antisubmarine air operations, air protection of Allied shipping, and air interdiction of enemy shipping. The components of NACAF at the time of the Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) on July 10, 1943 are illustrated below.[1][2]
Order of Battle
[edit]Northwest African Coastal Air Force
Air Vice-Marshal Sir Hugh Lloyd
Order of Battle, July 10, 1943
^No. 242 Group Air Commodore Kenneth Cross | British Units | American Units |
---|---|---|
No. 323 Wing No. 73 Squadron, Spitfire | RAF Units No. 13 Squadron, Blenheim | 52nd Fighter Group Lieutenant Colonel James Coward 2nd Squadron, Spitfire 414th Night Fighter Squadron, Beaufighter |
No. 328 Wing No. 14 Squadron, B-26 Marauder | Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Units Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance No. 813 Squadron (Det.), Swordfish | 81st Fighter Group Lieutenant Colonel Michael Gordon Oran, Algeria Sector: |
Information in table taken from: 1) Participation of the Ninth & | Bone, Algeria Sector: No. 32 Squadron, Hurricane | 350th Fighter Group Lieutenant Colonel Marvin McNickle 345th Squadron, P-39 Airacobra |
2) Maurer, Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, | 2nd Air Defense Wing: No. 153 Squadron, Beaufighter | 480th Antisubmarine Group Colonel Jack Roberts 1st Squadron, B-24 Liberator |
Notes:
^No. 242 Group was originally a part of the Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) but later transferred to NACAF.
The 1st and 2nd Antisubmarine Squadrons were assigned to NACAF for administration and placed under the operational control of United States Navy Fleet Air Wing 15 of the Moroccan Sea Frontier commanded by Rear Admiral Frank J. Lowry.
No. 144 Squadron was attached from the United Kingdom.
Air Ministry was asked to provide two additional Wellington squadrons.
An Africa-based RAF Hudson of No. 608 Squadron was the first aircraft to sink a U-boat using rockets.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ Craven, Wesley F. and James L. Cate. The Army Air Forces in World War II, Volume 2, Chicago, Illinois: Chicago University Press, 1949 (Reprinted 1983, ISBN 0-912799-03-X).
- ^ Richards, D. and H. Saunders, The Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (Volume 2, HMSO, 1953).
Bibliography
[edit]- Howe, George F., Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West, Center of Military History, Washington, DC., 1991.