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

INFO Eduard - August 2021

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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