The Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) was a component of the Northwest African Air Forces which itself reported to 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 the North African and Mediterranean theater of World War II . Created on February 18, 1943, the NATAF and other MAC commands existed until December 10, 1943, when MAC was disbanded and the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) were established.
Acting Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham, who had been air officer commanding Western Desert Air Force became the commander of NATAF.Craven, Wesley F. and James L. Cate. The Army Air Forces in World War II, Volume 2, Chicago, Illinois: Chicago University Press, 1949 (Reprinted 1983, ). and the WDAF became part of the new NATAF
Composition The components of NATAF at the time of the Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) on July 10, 1943, are illustrated below.Howe, George F., Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West, Center of Military History, Washington, DC., 1991.
+Northwest African Tactical Air Force (Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham) Participation of the Ninth & Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, Army Air Forces Historical Study No. 37, Army Air Forces. Historical Office Headquarters, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1945.Maurer, Maurer, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, Office of Air Force History, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, 1983. Desert Air Force Air Vice Marshal Harry Broadhurst XII Air Support CommandMajor General Edwin House Tactical Bomber ForceAir Commodore Laurence Sinclair No. 7 Wing (SAAF)
No. 2 Squadron, Supermarine SpitfireNo. 4 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 5 Squadron, Curtiss Kittyhawk 27th Fighter-Bomber Group (USAAF)Lieutenant Colonel John Stevenson
522nd Squadron, North American A-36 Mustang523rd Squadron, A-36 Mustang524th Squadron, A-36 Mustang No. 3 Wing (SAAF)
No. 12 Squadron, Douglas Boston light bomberNo. 21 Squadron, Martin Baltimore light bomberNo. 24 Squadron, Boston No. 239 Wing
No. 3 Squadron RAAF, KittyhawkNo. 112 Squadron RAF, KittyhawkNo. 250 Squadron RAF, KittyhawkNo. 260 Squadron RAF, KittyhawkNo. 450 Squadron RAAF, Kittyhawk 86th Fighter-Bomber Group (USAAF)Major Clinton True
525th Squadron, A-36 Mustang526th Squadron, A-36 Mustang527th Squadron, A-36 Mustang No. 232 Wing (RAF)
No. 55 Squadron, BaltimoreNo. 223 Squadron, Baltimore No. 244 WingBrian Kingcome (RAF)
No. 1 Squadron SAAF, SpitfireNo. 92 Squadron RAF, SpitfireNo. 145 Squadron RAF, SpitfireNo. 417 Squadron RCAF, SpitfireNo. 601 Squadron RAF, Spitfire 33d Fighter Group (USAAF)Colonel William Momyer
58th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk59th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk60th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk-99th Squadron, P-40, Detached No. 326 Wing (RAF)
No. 18 Squadron, BostonNo. 114 Squadron, Boston No. 322 Wing (RAF)Colin Falkland Gray (RAF)
No. 81 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 152 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 154 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 232 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 242 Squadron, Spitfire 324th Fighter Group (USAAF)Colonel William McNown
314th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk315th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk316th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk 47th Bombardment Group (USAAF)Colonel Malcolm Green, Jr.
84th Squadron, A-20 Havoc light bomber85th Squadron, A-20 Havoc86th Squadron, A-20 Havoc97th Squadron, A-20 Havoc No. 324 Wing (RAF)Daniel Le Roy du Vivier (RAF)
No. 43 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 72 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 93 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 111 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 243 Squadron, Spitfire 31st Fighter Group (USAAF)Lieutenant Colonel Frank Hill
307th Squadron, Spitfire308th Squadron, Spitfire309th Squadron, Spitfire 12th Bombardment Group (USAAF)Colonel Edward Backus
81st Squadron, North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber82nd Squadron, B-25 Mitchell83rd Squadron, B-25 Mitchell434th Squadron, B-25 Mitchell 57th Fighter Group (USAAF)Colonel Arthur Salisbury
64th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk65th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk66th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Mustang 340th Bombardment Group (USAAF)Lieutenant Colonel Adolph Tokaz
486th Squadron, B-25 Mitchell487th Squadron, B-25 Mitchell488th Squadron, B-25 Mitchell489th Squadron, B-25 Mitchell- 79th Fighter Group (USAAF)Colonel Earl Bates
85th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk86th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk87th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk No. 225 Squadron (RAF), Spitfire No. 285 Wing (Reconnaissance)
No. 40 Squadron SAAF, Detachment, SpitfireNo. 60 Squadron SAAF, de Havilland MosquitoNo. 1437 Flight RAF, Mustang No. 241 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 6 Squadron RAF, Hurricane
For Operation Husky, No. 242 Group RAF, originally a component of NATAF in February 1943, was assigned to the Northwest African Coastal Air Force (NACAF). At the same time, Air Headquarters, Western Desert became known as Desert Air Force. All of the fighter units of Desert Air Force formed No. 211 (Offensive Fighter) Group commanded by Air Commodore Richard Atcherley on April 11, 1943, in Tripoli. The 99th Fighter Squadron (one of the Tuskegee Airmen units) was assigned to the XII Air Support Command on May 28, 1943, and subsequently attached to the 33rd Fighter Group. The actual squadron assignments and detachments varied throughout the war depending on the specific needs of the air force.
The table above illustrates the squadron assignments and commanders for the important period of World War II when the Allies prepared to invade Italy (Operation Husky), having just won the war in North Africa with the end of the Tunisia Campaign. In recognition of XII Air Support Command's operations in Sicily, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower presented Major General Edwin House with the Legion of Merit and saying that "...for the first time established the application of a tactical air force operating in support of an American Army."
See also
List of Royal Air Force commands
Notes
References