Northwest African Photographic Reconnaissance Wing
Encyclopedia
The Northwest African Photographic Reconnaissance Wing (NAPRW) was an Allied
photo-reconnaissance
wing which operated in North Africa
during World War II
until the end of 1943.
which itself was a sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command
(MAC). These new Allied
air force organizations were created at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943 to promote cooperation between the British Royal Air Force
(RAF), the American United States Army Air Force (USAAF), and their respective ground and naval forces in North Africa
and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
(MTO). Effective 18 February 1943, the NAPRW and other MAC commands existed until 10 December 1943 when MAC was disbanded and the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
(MAAF) were established. Colonel Elliott Roosevelt
, the son of United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt
, was the commander of NAPRW.
The successor unit was the "Mediterranean Allied Photo Reconnaissance Wing"
(Operation Husky) on 10 July 1943, the NAPRW consisted of:
, the renowned French aviator and author of several aviation writings as well as The Little Prince
, was a P-38 pilot in 2/33 Groupe de Reconnaissance. Saint-Exupéry failed to return to his base at Borgo, Corsica following a reconnaissance mission on 31 July 1944 and is believed to have died at that time.
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
photo-reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
wing which operated in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
during 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...
until the end of 1943.
History
NAPRW was a sub-command of the Northwest African Air ForcesNorthwest 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...
which itself was a sub-command of 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...
(MAC). These new 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 force organizations were created at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943 to promote cooperation between the British Royal Air Force
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), the American United States Army Air Force (USAAF), and their respective ground and naval forces in North Africa
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
and the 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). Effective 18 February 1943, the NAPRW and other MAC commands existed until 10 December 1943 when MAC was disbanded and 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:...
(MAAF) were established. Colonel Elliott Roosevelt
Elliott Roosevelt
Elliott Roosevelt was a United States Army Air Forces officer and an author. Roosevelt was a son of U.S. President Franklin D...
, the son of United States 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...
, was the commander of NAPRW.
The successor unit was the "Mediterranean Allied Photo Reconnaissance Wing"
Order of battle
At the time of the Allied invasion of SicilyAllied invasion of Sicily
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis . It was a large scale amphibious and airborne operation, followed by six weeks of land combat. It launched the Italian Campaign.Husky began on the night of...
(Operation Husky) on 10 July 1943, the NAPRW consisted of:
- 3rd Photographic Group under Lieutenant Colonel Frank Dunn
- 5th Combat Mapping Squadron, P-38 Lightning
- 12th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, P-38 Lightning
- 12th Weather Detachment
- 15th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, B-17 Fortress
- 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (Detachment) Photo Intelligence
- No. 60 Squadron SAAF Detachment, Mosquito PR.IVDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- No. 540 Squadron RAFNo. 540 Squadron RAFNo. 540 Squadron RAF was a photo-reconnasissance squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1942 to 1956.-Formation and World War II:The squadron was formed on 19 October 1942 from 'H' and 'L' flights of No...
Detachment, Mosquito PR.IV/PR.XI - No. 680 Squadron RAFNo. 680 Squadron RAFNo. 680 Squadron RAF was a photo-reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Air Force, active during the Second World War.-History:No. 680 Squadron RAF was formed in February 1943 from 'A' Flight of No. 2 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit , equipped with a variety of aircraft including Supermarine...
, Spitfire PR.IX/PR.XI - 2/33 Groupe (Free French Air ForceFree French Air ForceThe Free French Air Force was the air arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War.-Fighting for Free France — the FAFL in French North Africa :...
), P-38 Lightning
Notable personnel
Antoine de Saint-ExupéryAntoine de Saint-Exupéry
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry , officially Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger, comte de Saint Exupéry , was a French writer, poet and pioneering aviator. He became a laureate of France's highest literary awards, and in 1939 was the winner of the U.S. National Book Award...
, the renowned French aviator and author of several aviation writings as well as The Little Prince
The Little Prince
The Little Prince , first published in 1943, is a novella and the most famous work of the French aristocrat writer, poet and pioneering aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ....
, was a P-38 pilot in 2/33 Groupe de Reconnaissance. Saint-Exupéry failed to return to his base at Borgo, Corsica following a reconnaissance mission on 31 July 1944 and is believed to have died at that time.