No. 205 Group RAF
Encyclopedia
No. 205 Group was a long-range, heavy bomber group of the Royal Air Force
(RAF) established on October 23, 1941 by boosting No. 257 Wing to Group status.
During the RAF campaigns in Egypt and Libya, the successful coordination of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group under Air Commodore Alan P. Ritchie with No. 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group
under Air Vice Marshal Hugh Lloyd, and Air Headquarters (H.Q.) Western Desert
under Air Vice Marshal Arthur Coningham
, provided the practical model upon which British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
, American President Franklin D. Roosevelt
, and their staffs reorganized the Allied
air forces in the North African and Mediterranean Theater of Operations
(MTO) at the Casablanca Conference in January of 1943. The result of this reorganization was the Mediterranean Air Command
commanded by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder and its major sub-command, the Northwest African Air Forces
(NAAF) under Lieutenant General Carl Spaatz
, was structured according to the tri-force model.
The air interdiction model with its separate strategic, coastal, and tactical air forces was presented to the Casablanca planners by Tedder who along with primarily Ritchie, Lloyd, and especially Coningham, implemented and developed the tri-force model in Egypt and Libya during 1942.
As the strategic component of the original tri-force, No. 205 Group contributed significantly to the organization of NAAF established on February 18, 1943, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
(MAAF) in December of 1943, Allied Expeditionary Air Forces (AEAF) of the Normandy Campaign
, and even today's air forces.
Throughout this important period of World War II
during which air interdiction was practiced and developed, Tedder was always at the forefront as Air Commander-in-Chief of RAF Middle East Command
, Mediterranean Air Command
(MAC), Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
, and as General Dwight D. Eisenhower
's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for planning the air operations for D-Day Normandy.
Appropriately, in the MAC organization following the Casablanca Conference, No. 205 Group was part of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force
(NASAF), an Allied command under Major General James H. Doolittle
consisting of American (daytime) and British (primarily nighttime) long-range heavy bomber units. NASAF, along with the Northwest African Coastal Air Force
(NACAF) and the Northwest African Tactical Air Force
(NATAF), formed a complete tri-force under a single unified command (NAAF). The components of No. 205 Group at various times during World War II are illustrated below.
Notes:
A/Cdre=Air Commodore; RCAF=Royal Canadian Air Force
+MASAF=Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force under Major General Nathan Twining
was a sub-command of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
.
^It's not absolutely certain which RAF squadrons were operating in No. 205 Group during the summer of 1942. American heavy bomber units began arriving in the Middle East at this time. The first was Colonel Harry A. Halverson's detachment of B-24 Liberator
s known as the Halverson Project (HALPRO). On June 12, 1942, thirteen B-24s of the Halverson Detachment
bombed the Ploesti oil refineries in Romania. This was the first strategic bombing mission by an American unit in World War II. On June 28, 1942, Major General Lewis H. Brereton
arrived from India with the 9th Bombardment Squadron
of B-17 Flying Fortresses. The Halverson Detachment and the 9th Bombardment Squadron were both under control of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group for target selection and operations.
RAF operational control of the American heavy bomber units continued even after Halverson's Detachment of B-24s and Brereton's 9th Bombardment Squadron of B-17s were consolidated to form the 1st Provisional Bombardment Group on July 20, 1942 under Halverson's command. When the American 98th Bombardment Group with four squadrons of B-24s arrived and began flying combat missions in August of 1942, the RAF selected its mission targets as well. This situation caused some concern among officers of the 9th Air Force's IX Bomber Command and the United States Army Middle East Air Force (USAMEAF).
When MAC was disbanded on December 10, 1943, No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group was assigned to the Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force, the strategic arm of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
. No. 205 Group eventually converted to Consolidated B-24 Liberator
aircraft, and remained under Simpson's command for the duration of World War II in Europe. No. 205 Group was disbanded on April 15, 1956. Unfortunately, many of the records of No. 205 Group are apparently unavailable for the period prior to the air force reorganization in February 1943 (Mediterranean Air Command
).
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF) established on October 23, 1941 by boosting No. 257 Wing to Group status.
During the RAF campaigns in Egypt and Libya, the successful coordination of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group under Air Commodore Alan P. Ritchie with No. 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group
No. 201 Group RAF
No. 201 Group was a group of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-History:No. 201 Group RAF was formed on 18 September 1939 from General Reconnaissance Group, Middle East of the Royal Air Force . The group was initially commanded by Group Captain H.W.G. Penderel. On May 11, 1940, Group...
under Air Vice Marshal Hugh Lloyd, and Air Headquarters (H.Q.) Western Desert
Desert Air Force
The Desert Air Force , also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, AHQ Western Desert, the Western Desert Air Force, Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force , was an Allied tactical air force initially created from No...
under Air Vice Marshal Arthur Coningham
Arthur Coningham (RAF officer)
Air Marshal Sir Arthur "Mary" Coningham KCB, KBE, DSO, MC, DFC, AFC, RAF was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. During the First World War, he was at Gallipoli with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, where he became a flying ace...
, provided the practical model upon which British Prime Minister Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, American President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
, and their staffs reorganized the Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
air forces in the North African and Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Mediterranean Theater of Operations
The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army was originally called North African Theater of Operations and is an American term for the conflict that took place between the Allies and Axis Powers in North Africa and Italy during World War II...
(MTO) at the Casablanca Conference in January of 1943. The result of this reorganization was the Mediterranean Air Command
Mediterranean Air Command
The Mediterranean Air Command was the official Allied air force command organization in the North African and Mediterranean Theater of Operations between February 18 and December 10, 1943. MAC was commanded by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder whose headquarters were established next to those...
commanded by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder and its major sub-command, the Northwest African Air Forces
Northwest African Air Forces
Northwest African Air Forces was the principal sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command created when the Allied air forces in North Africa and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations were reorganized in February of 1943...
(NAAF) under Lieutenant General Carl Spaatz
Carl Spaatz
Carl Andrew "Tooey" Spaatz GBE was an American World War II general and the first Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. He was of German descent.-Early life:...
, was structured according to the tri-force model.
The air interdiction model with its separate strategic, coastal, and tactical air forces was presented to the Casablanca planners by Tedder who along with primarily Ritchie, Lloyd, and especially Coningham, implemented and developed the tri-force model in Egypt and Libya during 1942.
As the strategic component of the original tri-force, No. 205 Group contributed significantly to the organization of NAAF established on February 18, 1943, Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces was the major Allied air force command organization in the Mediterranean theater from mid-December 1943 until the end of the Second World War.-Formation:...
(MAAF) in December of 1943, Allied Expeditionary Air Forces (AEAF) of the Normandy Campaign
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, and even today's air forces.
Throughout this important period of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
during which air interdiction was practiced and developed, Tedder was always at the forefront as Air Commander-in-Chief of RAF Middle East Command
RAF Middle East Command
Middle East Command was a command of the Royal Air Force formed on December 29, 1941 by renaming Headquarters RAF Middle East. During the early part of the Second World War the Command was one of the three major British service commands in the Middle East, the others being the British Army's...
, Mediterranean Air Command
Mediterranean Air Command
The Mediterranean Air Command was the official Allied air force command organization in the North African and Mediterranean Theater of Operations between February 18 and December 10, 1943. MAC was commanded by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder whose headquarters were established next to those...
(MAC), Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces was the major Allied air force command organization in the Mediterranean theater from mid-December 1943 until the end of the Second World War.-Formation:...
, and as General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for planning the air operations for D-Day Normandy.
Appropriately, in the MAC organization following the Casablanca Conference, No. 205 Group was part of the Northwest African Strategic Air Force
Northwest African Strategic Air Force
The Northwest African Strategic Air Force was a sub-command of the Northwest African Air Forces which itself was a sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command...
(NASAF), an Allied command under Major General James H. Doolittle
Jimmy Doolittle
General James Harold "Jimmy" Doolittle, USAF was an American aviation pioneer. Doolittle served as a brigadier general, major general and lieutenant general in the United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War...
consisting of American (daytime) and British (primarily nighttime) long-range heavy bomber units. NASAF, along with the Northwest African Coastal Air Force
Northwest African Coastal Air Force
The Northwest African Coastal Air Force was a sub-command of the Northwest African Air Forces which itself was a sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command...
(NACAF) and the Northwest African Tactical Air Force
Northwest African Tactical Air Force
The Northwest African Tactical Air Force was a sub-command of the Northwest African Air Forces which itself was a sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command...
(NATAF), formed a complete tri-force under a single unified command (NAAF). The components of No. 205 Group at various times during World War II are illustrated below.
| 11 November 1941 Operation Crusader Operation Crusader Operation Crusader was a military operation by the British Eighth Army between 18 November–30 December 1941. The operation successfully relieved the 1941 Siege of Tobruk.... A/Cdre Lachlan MacLean |
Summer 1942 Egyptian Defensive A/Cdre MacLean or Ritchie |
27 October 1942 Second Battle of El Alamein El Alamein El Alamein is a town in the northern Matrouh Governorate of Egypt. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it lies west of Alexandria and northwest of Cairo. As of 2007, it has a local population of 7,397 inhabitants.- Climate :... A/Cdre A. P. Ritchie |
10 July 1943 Operation Husky A/Cdre John Simpson John Herbert Thomas Simpson Air Commodore John Herbert Thomas Simpson DSO AFC RAF R’td was a bomber pilot during the Second World War and a senior RAF staff officer during the 1950s.... |
1944 & 1945 Part of +MASAF A/Cdre John Simpson John Herbert Thomas Simpson Air Commodore John Herbert Thomas Simpson DSO AFC RAF R’td was a bomber pilot during the Second World War and a senior RAF staff officer during the 1950s.... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 37 Squadron No. 37 Squadron RAF -History:No. 37 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Orfordness, Suffolk, on 15 April 1916 but ceased to exist a month later. In September of that year, it was re-formed, with headquarters at Woodham Mortimer, in Essex. It responsibilities included defending London against aerial attack... , Wellington No. 38 Squadron No. 38 Squadron RAF No. 38 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was a bomber squadron formed in 1916 and was disbanded for the last time in 1967.-World War I :... , Wellington No. 70 Squadron, Wellington |
No. 37 Squadron No. 37 Squadron RAF -History:No. 37 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Orfordness, Suffolk, on 15 April 1916 but ceased to exist a month later. In September of that year, it was re-formed, with headquarters at Woodham Mortimer, in Essex. It responsibilities included defending London against aerial attack... , Wellington No. 70 Squadron, Wellington |
No. 231 Wing ---- No. 37 Squadron No. 37 Squadron RAF -History:No. 37 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Orfordness, Suffolk, on 15 April 1916 but ceased to exist a month later. In September of that year, it was re-formed, with headquarters at Woodham Mortimer, in Essex. It responsibilities included defending London against aerial attack... , Wellington No. 70 Squadron, Wellington - - |
No. 231 Wing ---- No. 37 Squadron No. 37 Squadron RAF -History:No. 37 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Orfordness, Suffolk, on 15 April 1916 but ceased to exist a month later. In September of that year, it was re-formed, with headquarters at Woodham Mortimer, in Essex. It responsibilities included defending London against aerial attack... , Wellington No. 40 Squadron No. 40 Squadron RAF No. 40 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport as No 40 Squadron RFC and was disbanded for the last time in 1957.Edward Mannock gained 16 of his 73 victories while with 40 Squadron, 15 of which he shot down while flying a Nieuport Scout... , Wellington No. 70 Squadron, Wellington - |
No. 231 Wing ---- No. 37 Squadron No. 37 Squadron RAF -History:No. 37 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at Orfordness, Suffolk, on 15 April 1916 but ceased to exist a month later. In September of that year, it was re-formed, with headquarters at Woodham Mortimer, in Essex. It responsibilities included defending London against aerial attack... , Wellington X to B-24 Liberator VI in October 1944. No. 70 Squadron, Wellington X to B-24 Liberator VI in January 1945. |
| No. 108 Squadron No. 108 Squadron RAF Motto "Viribus contractis" .No. 108 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War I. The unit was formed at Stonehenge and it adopted an oak leaf as a badge being symbolic of strength and age... , Wellington No. 148 Squadron No. 148 Squadron RAF No. 148 Squadron of the Royal Air Force has been part of the RAF since World War I.-History:As No. 148 Squadron it was reformed as a special duties squadron and part of the Balkan Air Force in World War II. It dropped men and materiel behind enemy lines in the occupied countries such as... , Wellington |
No. 108 Squadron No. 108 Squadron RAF Motto "Viribus contractis" .No. 108 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War I. The unit was formed at Stonehenge and it adopted an oak leaf as a badge being symbolic of strength and age... , Wellington No. 148 Squadron No. 148 Squadron RAF No. 148 Squadron of the Royal Air Force has been part of the RAF since World War I.-History:As No. 148 Squadron it was reformed as a special duties squadron and part of the Balkan Air Force in World War II. It dropped men and materiel behind enemy lines in the occupied countries such as... , Wellington |
No. 236 Wing ---- No. 108 Squadron No. 108 Squadron RAF Motto "Viribus contractis" .No. 108 Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War I. The unit was formed at Stonehenge and it adopted an oak leaf as a badge being symbolic of strength and age... , Wellington No. 148 Squadron No. 148 Squadron RAF No. 148 Squadron of the Royal Air Force has been part of the RAF since World War I.-History:As No. 148 Squadron it was reformed as a special duties squadron and part of the Balkan Air Force in World War II. It dropped men and materiel behind enemy lines in the occupied countries such as... , Wellington - - |
No. 236 Wing ---- No. 104 Squadron No. 104 Squadron RAF No. 104 Squadron RAF was formed at Wyton on 4 September 1917 and was equipped with the DH 9. It then moved to Andover, prior to being posted to France in May 1918. The squadron later began re-equipping with the DH 10, however the armistice arrived before this was completed and the squadron returned... , Wellington No. 462 Squadron No. 462 Squadron RAAF No. 462 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron which forms part of the Information Warfare Wing in the RAAF's Aerospace Operational Support Group. The squadron was first formed in 1942 as a heavy bomber unit and saw combat in this role in the Mediterranean area until it was disbanded in... , Halifax - - |
No. 236 Wing ---- No. 40 Squadron No. 40 Squadron RAF No. 40 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport as No 40 Squadron RFC and was disbanded for the last time in 1957.Edward Mannock gained 16 of his 73 victories while with 40 Squadron, 15 of which he shot down while flying a Nieuport Scout... , Wellington X to B-24 Liberator VI in March 1945. No. 104 Squadron No. 104 Squadron RAF No. 104 Squadron RAF was formed at Wyton on 4 September 1917 and was equipped with the DH 9. It then moved to Andover, prior to being posted to France in May 1918. The squadron later began re-equipping with the DH 10, however the armistice arrived before this was completed and the squadron returned... , Wellington X to B-24 Liberator VI in February 1945. |
| No. 238 Wing ---- No. 40 Squadron No. 40 Squadron RAF No. 40 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1916 at Gosport as No 40 Squadron RFC and was disbanded for the last time in 1957.Edward Mannock gained 16 of his 73 victories while with 40 Squadron, 15 of which he shot down while flying a Nieuport Scout... , Wellington No. 104 Squadron No. 104 Squadron RAF No. 104 Squadron RAF was formed at Wyton on 4 September 1917 and was equipped with the DH 9. It then moved to Andover, prior to being posted to France in May 1918. The squadron later began re-equipping with the DH 10, however the armistice arrived before this was completed and the squadron returned... , Wellington - - |
No. 330 Wing ---- No. 142 Squadron No. 142 Squadron RAF -History:No. 142 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at RFC Ismailia, Egypt in 1918, flying a mixed bag of reconnaissance and bomber aircraft. On the formation of the Royal Air Force, on 1 April 1918, 142 Squadron was at RFC Julis in Palestine, becoming No. 142 Squadron RAF... , Wellington No. 150 Squadron No. 150 Squadron RAF No. 150 Squadron RAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force during both World War I and World War II.The squadron was reformed - as 150 Sqn. - on 8 January 1959 as one of 20 Strategic Missile squadrons associated with Project Emily... , Wellington - - |
No. 240 Wing ---- No. 178 Squadron No. 178 Squadron RAF No. 178 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was a bomber unit based in Egypt, Libya and Italy in World War II.-Formation in World War II:... , B-24 Liberator VI No. 462 Squadron, Halifax II renamed No. 614 Squadron No. 614 Squadron RAF 614 Squadron was originally formed on 1 June 1937 as an army co-opeation squadron unit of the Auxiliary Air Force. It served during the Second World War first in this role and later as a bomber squadron... on March 3, 1944. Used some B-24s after August 1944. |
||
| No. 160 Squadron No. 160 Squadron RAF No. 160 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force unit during World War II, when it flew for four years in a number of roles including heavy bomber, minelaying, reconnaissance, special operations and transport unit in the Middle East and South-East Asian theatre of World War II.-World War I: False start:No... , Liberator |
No. 242 Wing ---- No. 147 Squadron No. 147 Squadron RAF No. 147 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that was a transport unit in World War II.-Formation and World War II:Plans for formation of the squadron in World War I never came to fruition... , Liberator No. 160 Squadron No. 160 Squadron RAF No. 160 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force unit during World War II, when it flew for four years in a number of roles including heavy bomber, minelaying, reconnaissance, special operations and transport unit in the Middle East and South-East Asian theatre of World War II.-World War I: False start:No... , Liberator - |
No. 331 Wing (RCAF) ---- No. 420 Squadron No. 420 Squadron RCAF No. 420 "City of London" Squadron RCAF was a squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force which existed from late December 1941 forwards. The Squadron's nickname was "Snowy Owl". Their motto was Pugnamus Finitum, Latin for We Fight To The Finish. No. 420 Squadron is no longer active.-History:No... , Wellington No. 424 Squadron No. 424 Squadron RCAF 424 "City of Hamilton" Transport and Rescue Squadron is a search and rescue/transport squadron of the Canadian Forces and based out of 9 Hangar with 8 Wing CFB Trenton.-History:... , Wellington No. 425 Squadron No. 425 Squadron RCAF 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, also "Alouette" Squadron, is a unit of the Royal Canadian Air Force. It operates CF-188 Hornet fighter jets from CFB Bagotville in Quebec, Canada... , Wellington |
No. 330 Wing ---- No. 142 Squadron No. 142 Squadron RAF -History:No. 142 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps was formed at RFC Ismailia, Egypt in 1918, flying a mixed bag of reconnaissance and bomber aircraft. On the formation of the Royal Air Force, on 1 April 1918, 142 Squadron was at RFC Julis in Palestine, becoming No. 142 Squadron RAF... , Wellington X, to UK, Mosquito No. 150 Squadron No. 150 Squadron RAF No. 150 Squadron RAF was an aircraft squadron of the Royal Air Force during both World War I and World War II.The squadron was reformed - as 150 Sqn. - on 8 January 1959 as one of 20 Strategic Missile squadrons associated with Project Emily... , Wellington X, to UK, Lancaster when No. 330 Wing disbanded on October 5, 1944. |
|
| No. 245 Wing ---- No. 14 Squadron No. 14 Squadron RAF No. 14 Squadron of the Royal Air Force currently operates the Beechcraft Shadow R1 in the ISTAR role from RAF Waddington.-World War I:... (RAF), Marauder, Boston No. 227 Squadron No. 227 Squadron RAF No. 227 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron that formed as bomber unit in World War I and World War II.-Formation and World War I:No... (RAF) Det., Halifax No. 462 Squadron No. 462 Squadron RAAF No. 462 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron which forms part of the Information Warfare Wing in the RAAF's Aerospace Operational Support Group. The squadron was first formed in 1942 as a heavy bomber unit and saw combat in this role in the Mediterranean area until it was disbanded in... (RAAF), Halifax |
No. 2 Wing SAAF (Joined 205 Group in 6/44) ---- No. 31 Squadron SAAF, B-24 Liberator VI No. 34 Squadron SAAF, B-24 Liberator VI - |
|||
| Special Liberator Flight, Liberator |
Notes:
A/Cdre=Air Commodore; RCAF=Royal Canadian Air Force
+MASAF=Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force under Major General Nathan Twining
Nathan Farragut Twining
Nathan Farragut Twining, KBE was a United States Air Force General, born in Monroe, Wisconsin. He was Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from 1953 until 1957...
was a sub-command of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces was the major Allied air force command organization in the Mediterranean theater from mid-December 1943 until the end of the Second World War.-Formation:...
.
^It's not absolutely certain which RAF squadrons were operating in No. 205 Group during the summer of 1942. American heavy bomber units began arriving in the Middle East at this time. The first was Colonel Harry A. Halverson's detachment of B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
s known as the Halverson Project (HALPRO). On June 12, 1942, thirteen B-24s of the Halverson Detachment
Egypt-Libya Campaign
The Egypt–Libya Campaign is the name used by the United States military for the US contribution to the Allied Western Desert Campaign, during World War II. From 1942, U.S. forces assisted the British Commonwealth in fighting Axis forces in Egypt and Libya. The U.S...
bombed the Ploesti oil refineries in Romania. This was the first strategic bombing mission by an American unit in World War II. On June 28, 1942, Major General Lewis H. Brereton
Lewis H. Brereton
Lewis Hyde Brereton was a military aviation pioneer and lieutenant general in the United States Air Force...
arrived from India with the 9th Bombardment Squadron
9th Bomb Squadron
The 9th Bomb Squadron is part of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. It operates B-1 Lancer aircraft providing strategic bombing capability...
of B-17 Flying Fortresses. The Halverson Detachment and the 9th Bombardment Squadron were both under control of No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group for target selection and operations.
"Between 26 June and 5 July, nine missions were flown, all but one against Tobruk. The B-17's of the 9th Squadron participated in two attacks, one by night, and the B-24's (Halverson's Detachment), sometimes in company with the RAF's Liberator squadron (No. 160 SquadronNo. 160 Squadron RAFNo. 160 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force unit during World War II, when it flew for four years in a number of roles including heavy bomber, minelaying, reconnaissance, special operations and transport unit in the Middle East and South-East Asian theatre of World War II.-World War I: False start:No...
), also operated both by day and by night."
RAF operational control of the American heavy bomber units continued even after Halverson's Detachment of B-24s and Brereton's 9th Bombardment Squadron of B-17s were consolidated to form the 1st Provisional Bombardment Group on July 20, 1942 under Halverson's command. When the American 98th Bombardment Group with four squadrons of B-24s arrived and began flying combat missions in August of 1942, the RAF selected its mission targets as well. This situation caused some concern among officers of the 9th Air Force's IX Bomber Command and the United States Army Middle East Air Force (USAMEAF).
"A development of some importance in the career of USAMEAF manifested itself administratively on 12 October when orders were cut assigning nine officers to the IX Bomber Command, which organization was then and for a month afterwards unofficial. This command had its roots in a discussion on 5 September between Tedder's senior air staff officer, Air Vice Marshal H. E. P. Wigglesworth, and G-3 officers of USAMEAF, during which Wigglesworth asserted that he had control, delegated by Tedder, over the target selection for the U.S. heavy bombers. Col. Patrick W TimberlakePatrick W TimberlakePatrick W Timberlake was a General in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II, serving in both the Mediterranean and Pacific theaters of operation....
, G-3 of Brereton's staff, took a serious view of this assertion in that it violated the Arnold-Portal-Towers agreement that American combat units assigned to theaters of British strategic responsibility were to be organized in "homogeneous American formations" under the "strategic control" of the appropriate British commander in chief. In a memo of 7 September, Timberlake granted that this canon might be justifiably violated in the case of the 12th Bombardment (M) and 57th Fighter Groups, but he could see no reason why operational control of the 1st Provisional and 98th Groups, comprising four-fifths of the heavy bomber force in the Middle East, should not be vested in American hands. Subsequent negotiations carried the point with the British, who even turned over their 160 SquadronNo. 160 Squadron RAFNo. 160 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force unit during World War II, when it flew for four years in a number of roles including heavy bomber, minelaying, reconnaissance, special operations and transport unit in the Middle East and South-East Asian theatre of World War II.-World War I: False start:No...
(Liberators) to the operational control of Bomber Command. On 12 October a small staff moved into Grey Pillars, RAF headquarters at Cairo, and thenceforth USAMEAF's bombers operated only under the "strategic" direction of the British. Timberlake headed the organization, with Kalberer as his A-3 and Lt. Col. Donald M. Keiser as his chief of staff."
When MAC was disbanded on December 10, 1943, No. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group was assigned to the Mediterranean Allied Strategic Air Force, the strategic arm of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces was the major Allied air force command organization in the Mediterranean theater from mid-December 1943 until the end of the Second World War.-Formation:...
. No. 205 Group eventually converted to Consolidated B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
aircraft, and remained under Simpson's command for the duration of World War II in Europe. No. 205 Group was disbanded on April 15, 1956. Unfortunately, many of the records of No. 205 Group are apparently unavailable for the period prior to the air force reorganization in February 1943 (Mediterranean Air Command
Mediterranean Air Command
The Mediterranean Air Command was the official Allied air force command organization in the North African and Mediterranean Theater of Operations between February 18 and December 10, 1943. MAC was commanded by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder whose headquarters were established next to those...
).