RAF fitters running a test on an overhauled Rolls Royce Merlin engine installed in a Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc (possibly JG 873) undergoing repair at No. 144 Maintenance Unit, Maison Blanche, Algeria. The aircraft still sports the markings of the 4th Fighter Squadron/52nd
Fighter Group, 12th USAAF, with whom it formerly operated (Photo: IWM).
crossed Atlantic. The ground contingent reached Britain on June
10, 1942, the aviation one two weeks later, on June 25. The group
headquarters, 307th and 308th FS, were again transported by train
to RAF airbase Atcham and 309th FS to RAF airbase High Ercall.
All squadrons received Spitfires Mk.Vb at their bases and commenced the training. On August 1 they were declared operational and
transferred to the operational bases: 307th FS to RAF Biggin Hill,
308th FS to RAF Kenley and 308th to RAF Westhampnett. On August 16, the units saw their first combat under the RAF operational
command, Circus 204 over Lille and on August 19 the operation Jubilee, landing at Dieppe, during which the group scored two enemy
aircraft shot down, three probables and one damaged at the loss of
eight aircraft. At the end of August, all group squadrons gathered at
RAF airbase Westhampnett and in September they took part in the
further combat operations, patrols and offensive operations type
Circus, typically over Abbeville and Le Havre. On September 14,
the 31st FG was transferred from VIII. Fighter Command to XII. FC,
on October 13 it was declared non-operational and on October 23 it
boarded the ship for transport to Gibraltar.
The 52nd Fighter Group arrived in Liverpool in the middle of July
1942 and was transported by trains to Eglinton in Northern Ireland
where it received Spitfires Mk.Vb and commenced the training. During the first half of August the squadrons gradually achieved the
operational status: 2nd FS on August 5, 4th FS on August 7 and 4th
FS on August 19, the date when Operation Jubilee was launched.
The 52nd FG was not included among the units which directly participated in the air cover for Dieppe landing. On August 27, 2nd FS
and 4th FS flew their first sorties, 5th FS did not manage to fly any
sorties before the transfer under XII. Fighter Command. The 52nd
FG was transferred under the XII.FC at the same time as 31st FG
and its flying staff sailed for Gibraltar. Pilots of both groups arrived
in Gibraltar on November 6, 1942.
Operation Torch
In the beginning of November, both fighter groups received in Gibraltar new Spitfires Mk.Vb and Vc with large Vokes dust filters.
On November 8, 1942, before the operation Torch, the Gibraltar
airport was packed with aircraft. They were parked in all available areas around the airport including the adjacent North Front
Cemetery. On November 8, the mission of both groups was the air
cover of the landing at Oran in Algeria. The sorties were flown from
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Gibraltar. According to the invasion plan, both groups should have
landed and operated on the French base La Senia south of Oran
but because La Senia was fiercely defended by French, who had
shot down several Allied aircraft, the individual squadrons of both
groups landed on November 8 evening and November 9 at already
captured, further south located airport Tafraoui. The ground personnel were transported by ship. While 31st FG ground personnel
landed at the port of Arzew on the night of November 8 reaching
Tafraoui on trucks, 52nd FG personnel landed at Oran. Even though
it is closer, some 35 km versus 60 from Arzew, the personnel went
to Tafraoui by foot. Until they arrived, the pilots had to help themselves with basic maintenance and refueling. Fueling was done
from drums and naturally the maintenance was not up to the speed.
After the arrival at Tafraoui, 52nd FG ground personnel described
their aircraft as war weary. Both groups flew sorties out of Tafraoui
to support ground forces, missions against the Vichy AF as well as
ground attacks. On November 9 they flew ground attacks against
the armor columns of the French Foreign Legion advancing from
their base at Sidi bel Abbes towards Oran. On November 9, the 2nd
FS (52nd FG) escorted a B-17 with General Doolittle on board who
was, with his staff, on the way to Tafraoui. Due to the inclement
weather, several 2nd FS fighters got lost and after they exhausted
their fuel, they had to perform the emergency landings. Luckily,
there was no loss of life during this operation. On November 13,
the armistice was signed and as early as November 14, the 31st FG
transferred to La Senia airbase followed by 52nd FG on November
19. Until the end of the year the air operations were restricted
due to the bad weather. On January 11 the 308th FS transferred to
Cases airport near Casablanca to provide the air traffic during the
conference between prime minister Churchill and President Roosevelt held at Casablanca.
Fighting in Tunisia
On February 8, 1943, the 31st FG relocated to the east to Thelepte airfield in Tunisia, closer to the front. At this airbase they met
with 33rd FG flying P-40 Warhawks, French GC II/5 Lafayette flying
P-40Fs and the old friend, 52nd FG. All fighter groups flew escorts
for P-39s and A-20s performing the ground attacks against German
and Italian positions in Tunisia. On February 14, Afrikakorps and
Italians launched the counterattack in the Kasserine Pass together
with increased Luftwaffe activity. Due to the frequent shelling,
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