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 The Mediterranean Air Command (MAC) oversaw the combined air forces until superseded by the MAAF.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]
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.
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 The Mediterranean Air Command (MAC) oversaw the combined air forces until superseded by the MAAF.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]
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.