I'm currently reading Torpedo Leader by Patrick Gibbs as I build my knowledge of the anti-shipping/medium bomber ops in the Med. Excellent book so far. Anyway, Gibbs was posted to Egypt after a short stint as an instructor. He arrived in March '42 and, after finding out there was a glut of crews in the pool and not enough aircraft (particularly Beauforts) available (West African route in its infancy), he ended up at RAF HQ Cairo reporting to the A/C on the small RAF coastal ops at the time. He worked with "Ops 1/2/3" - fighters/bombers/Army Co-op. His description of Ops 3 is interesting: Ops 3 did steady good work, and hated every minute of it. He had commanded an army co-operation squadron in three campaigns - in Eritrea, Libya and Greece - and so intimately knew the operations with which he dealt from the remoteness of his office. His squadron, flying first Lysanders and later Hurricanes, had a fine record to which his DFC bore witness... I will endeavour to find out this squadron and who this man is/was as there will be some interesting stories there particularly in the Eritrean ops and the Lysander flying in the co-op role. Feel free to post if this rings bells!
Btw, Gibbs ends up joining 39 Sqn and sinks that unit's first ship before the move to Malta. Will post about that later.
I thought I was on to something here ( The Story of 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron ) but there is no mention of deployment or detachment to Greece. Eritrea and Libya fits though. I think the guy that might be mentioned as "Ops 3" might be: Towards the end of May after a short spell of rest there was regrouping at Asmara. Soon afterwards orders were received and the long squadron convoy was bumping over the old Italian road to Kassala, there to entrain for Wadi Halfa. It was at this point that Squadron Leader Maxwell, who had so ably led the unit since hostilities began, relinquished command. Flight Lieutenant Graham Smith now took over.
Only 6 or 7 squadrons used Asmara, and the only that fits the Lysander/Hurricane category is 237. However, for a few months around the time of Asmara (Jefford's RAF Squadrons says they were there in April 1941) they used Gladiators too. I can't find an appropriate Maxwell receiving a DFC in Honour the Air Forces
Hmm, thanks, Kyt. I knew you would be answer something definitively. I think the key here might be 208's time in Greece and its CO/COs at the time. Of course, with no name etc given in the book, we're relying on Gibbs' memory.
However, it maybe a mixing up of two different incidents/squadrons Andy. Because you are correct about 208 being the right squadron for Greece: Royal Air Force, Greece, April 1941
Nice one, Kyt, I've been pulling my hair out trying to find COs of 208 when in Greece. Really should get my act together re ready references such as that great site but I'm flitting around too many time consuming things as it is! So, who is S/L J R Wilson? Andy runs for cover!
