| RAF Middle East Command | |
|---|---|
| Active | December 1941 – December 1943 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Type | Command |
| Role | Control of RAF forces in the Middle East |
Middle East Command was acommand of theRoyal Air Force (RAF) that was active during theSecond World War. It had been preceded byRAF Middle East, which was established in 1918 by the redesignation ofHQ Royal Flying Corps Middle East that had been activated in 1917[1] although a small Royal Flying Corps presence had been operational in the region since 1914.
RAF Middle East Command was formed on 29 December 1941 following the redesignation of RAF Middle East.[1] During the early part of theSecond World War, the Command was one of the three British commands in the Middle East, the others being theBritish Army'sMiddle East Command and theRoyal Navy'sMediterranean Fleet. On 15 February 1943, RAF Middle East Command became a major sub-command of theMediterranean Air Command (MAC), theAllied formation that also included non-RAF units.
The RAF presence in the Middle East from the time of theFirst World War was similar to that of theMiddle East Command of theBritish Army, with operational responsibility for Egypt, the Sudan and Kenya, and administrative responsibility for Palestine and Transjordan. Separate RAF Commands held operational responsibility for Iraq and Aden whileRAF Mediterranean held responsibility forMalta. However, interwar planning held that in times of war, Middle East Command would assume control over all of these commands.
A smallRoyal Flying Corps presence was deployed to the Middle East in late 1914. By 1 July 1916 this force had grown sufficiently to be raised to abrigade asMiddle East Brigade.[2] By December 1917 Middle East Brigade had grown to become HQRFC Middle East which was renamed to RAF Middle East in April 1918. It renamed again to RAF Middle East Area in March 1920, then back to RAF Middle East in April 1922, and finally became RAF Middle East Command on 29 December 1941.[1]
From mid-February until MAC was disbanded on 10 December 1943, the Command consisted of the following sub-commands[3] with their initial commanders indicated:[1]
However, during this period of theSecond World War, Middle East Command was distinct from the other major sub-commands of MAC:
Accordingly, Middle East Command was primarily responsible for operations in the Eastern part of the Middle East during the war.
It was during the critical campaigns inEgypt and Libya during 1942 that Air Chief Marshal SirArthur Tedder, as Air Commander-in-Chief of RAF Middle East, successfully coordinated hisstrategic,coastal, andtactical air forces consisting primarily ofNo. 205 (Heavy Bomber) Group,No. 201 (Naval Co-operation) Group, and especially Air Vice MarshalArthur Coningham'sAir Headquarters (AHQ) Western Desert, respectively. The success of the Tedder-Coningham air interdiction during the desert war was the model upon which theNorthwest African Air Forces were created at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943.
Earlier, Tedder had beenChurchill's default choice as Air Officer Commanding in Chief of RAF Middle East when his first choice, Air Vice-MarshalOwen Boyd was captured. But soon after Tedder assumed command in June 1941, he made the following statement that not only characterized his mission in the Middle East, but the organization of theMediterranean Air Command in early 1943 and nearly all future air forces:
"In my opinion, sea, land and air operations in the Middle East Theatre are now so closely inter-related that effective coordination will only be possible if the campaign is considered and controlled as a combined operation in the full sense of that term."[4]
The concept itself was certainly not a new one, but putting it into practice under the military dogma and commander egos of the day was easier said than done. Throughout 1942 in particular, the coordination and flexibility exercised between Coningham'sWestern Desert Air Force (WDAF) and the8th Army has been contrasted with the more rigid relationship between theLuftwaffe and German ground forces.[5] During the first week of July, 1942, WDAF flew 5,458 sorties against Axis forces,[6] using the innovative tactic ofleap-frogging airfields,[7][8] andErwin Rommel informedBerlin on 4 July that he was abandoning hisEl Alamein offensive to concentrate on defence.[6] Later, the tactic of bombing known asTedder's carpet was developed.[9]
On 15 February 1943, the Command under Air Chief Marshal SirSholto Douglas became a major sub-command of theMediterranean Air Command (MAC), the officialAllied air force reorganisation established at theCasablanca Conference in January 1943.[10] Douglas took over Middle East Command when its previous commander, Air Chief Marshal SirArthur Tedder was named Air Commander-in-Chief of MAC. For Middle East operations, Tedder reported to the British Chiefs of Staff.[3]
Middle East Command was absorbed intoRAF Mediterranean and Middle East on 1 August 1945.[1]
RAF Middle East[1]
RAF Middle East Area[1]
RAF Middle East[1]
RAF Middle East (Air Officer's Commanding in Chief)[1]
Middle East Command[1]