Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
HQ No 242 Group Personnel, locations and units
This Group was formed as a nucleus in the Air Ministry on 24 August 1942 to support the planned Allied landings in North Africa, Operation Torch, in November 1942.
This nucleus arrived in Algiers on 13 November and moved to Phillipeville on 19 November, Jemappes on 20 November, Constantine on 22 November and Guelma on 26 November, before establishing itself at Ain Seymour Holiday Camp at Bizerta on 28 November. It was raised to full group status on 6 December but on 25 December was split into two echelons, one being at Souk-el-Arba and the second at Ghardimaou. Its location continued to change as the Allied forces advanced.
Control was transferred to North-West African Tactical Air Force on 18 February 1943 and then to North-West African Coastal Air Force on 26 May 1943.
Location | Command | Controlled |
Palermo, Sicily/ Taranto, Italy* | North-West African Tactical Air Force
(North-West African Air Forces) |
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
A/Cdre | Kenneth B B Cross | 22 Feb 1942 | Air Officer Commanding, DSO, DFC; later ACM |
Air Staff | |||
Wg Cdr | K W Gough | 26 Sep 1942 | AFC |
Wg Cdr | H S L Dundas | 1 Mar 1942 | DFC |
Administrative Staff | |||
Wg Cdr | G L Thomson | 9 Apr 1942 | DSC, DFC |
Sqn Ldr | N D Barratt | 1 Mar 1943 | |
Staffs of the Services | |||
Signals | |||
Wg Cdr | H W Berry | 16 Feb 1943 | Chief Signals Officer |
Medical | |||
Sqn Ldr | R M Outfin | 7 Sep 1942 | LMSSA |
Source - December 1943 Confidential Air Force List
* The CAFL states Palermo but other sources state Taranto
Location | Command | Controlled |
Palermo, Sicily/ Taranto, Italy* | Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force
(Mediterranean Allied Air Forces) |
Wings: -
Squadrons: -
Other Units: -
|
Rank | Name | Date | Notes |
A/Cdre | 24 Feb 1944 | Air Officer Commanding, CBE, MVO; later AVM | |
Personal Appointment | |||
Flt Lt | D Giles | 5 Mar 1944 | Personal Assistant to AOC, DFC |
Air Staff | |||
Gp Capt | R W M Clark | 10 Feb 1944 | Senior Air Staff Officer |
Wg Cdr | G Williams | 12 Mar 1944 | |
Sqn Ldr | A R de L Inniss | 28 Jul 1943 | DFC |
Sqn Ldr | P Meston | 19 Feb 1944 | |
Sqn Ldr | L G Honisett | 11 Mar 1944 | |
Sqn Ldr | D N Lansdown | 11 Mar 1944 | |
Sqn Ldr | F C Seldon | 18 Apr 1944 | |
Sqn Ldr | M S Hards | 11 Apr 1944 | DFC, DFM |
Sqn Ldr | W G Eager | 29 Mar 1944 | |
Administrative Staff | |||
Wg Cdr | J T Phelan | 26 May 1943 | Senior Officer i/c Administration |
Sqn Ldr | A N Glover | 26 May 1943 | Personnel, MC |
Sqn Ldr | A M Jamison | 24 Feb 1944 | Organisation |
Staffs of the Services | |||
Engineer | |||
Sqn Ldr | R J Alderson | 1 Aug 1943 | |
Signals | |||
Wg Cdr | G E Walker | 24 Jun 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | J A Browning | 26 May 1943 | |
Sqn Ldr | R G Poole | 10 Apr 1944 | |
Equipment | |||
Sqn Ldr | P G Tyler | 19 Jul 1943 | |
RAF Regiment | |||
Sqn Ldr | J Rosie | 15 Sep 1943 |
Source - June 1944 Confidential Air Force List
It disbanded on 14 September 1944
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