RAF Fighter Sweep

25 March 1942

HALPRO Task Force

12 June 1942
The first Army Air Force Combat mission in Europe during the Second World War, saw 13 B-24 Liberators, originally destined for China, bomb oil refineries in Ploesti, Roumania. While the raid had little impact, it proved the concept that Heavy bombers...

RAF Western Desert Air Force

15 June 1942
HALPRO B-24's and two Liberators of No 160 Squadron, RAF, attacked the Italian shipping fleet, which had now put to sea. The Beauforts sank a cruiser, and five of the USAAF planes bombed, claiming hits on a Littorio-class battleship and a Trento-class...

RAF Western Desert Air Force

21 June 1942
HALPRO B-24 conduct a night time raid on Benghazi harbor, with the support of RAF Wellingtons.

RAF Western Desert Air Force

24 June 1942
HALPRO B-24s carry out a night time raid on Benghazi Harbour.

RAF Western Desert Air Force

26 June 1942
HALPRO B-24s carry out a diversionary mission in support of the RAF who are attacking merchant vessels in Tobruk

RAF Western Desert Air Force

27 June 1942
HALPRO B-24 Liberators conduct a night-time raid on the harbor at Tobruk to disrupt supplies.

Middle East Air Force

28 June 1942
After being brought under the command of USAMEAF (Middle East Air Forces) HALPRO B-24s attack shipping at Tobruk.

RAF Bomber Command

29 June 1942
Bomber Command War Diaries: ...

Middle East Air Force

30 June 1942
B-24 Liberators conduct a night time attach on Tobruk harbor. They suffer the first casualties in the Middle East Theatre when one aircraft is lost.

Middle East Air Force

01 July 1942
B-24 Liberators conduct a night time attack on the harbour at Tobruk.

Middle East Air Force

02 July 1942
Heavy bombers conduct a night time raid on Tobruk Harbour.

Middle East Air Force

03 July 1942
B-24s carry out a daylight attack on Tobruk Harbour, this is followed up by a night-time attack on supplies at Tobruk by B-17 Flying Fortresses.

RAF Bomber Command

04 July 1942
Bomber Command War Diaries: ...

Middle East Air Force

04 July 1942
B-24s carry out a night time raid on a convoy in the Mediterranean sea.

Middle East Air Force

05 July 1942
B-24 Liberators carry out a night attack against Benghazi harbor and shipping

Middle East Air Force

08 July 1942

Middle East Air Force

09 July 1942

Middle East Air Force

11 July 1942
B-24 Liberators carry out a night attack against shipping at Benghazi.

RAF Bomber Command

12 July 1942
Bomber Command War Diaries: ...

Middle East Air Force

13 July 1942
B-24 Liberators attack shipping and the harbor at Benghazi, losing one aircraft to flak. B-17 Flying Fortresses carry out a night-raid against Tobruk.

Middle East Air Force

17 July 1942
B-24 Liberators attack Benghazi harbour, while B-17 Flying Fortresses attack Tobruk

Middle East Air Force

19 July 1942
B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses attack shipping at Benghazi and Tobruk

Middle East Air Force

22 July 1942

Middle East Air Force

24 July 1942

RAF Fighter Sweep

26 July 1942
6 Spitfire VB aircraft from 31FG join with 412 (Falcon) Squadron RCAF flying from Merston on a fighter sweep over Abbeville and St. Omer, France. Lt Col Albert P. Clark, O-020218, 31FG Executive Officer flying EN784 is shot down and captured becoming...

Middle East Air Force

26 July 1942

Middle East Air Force

28 July 1942
B-17 Flying Fortresses carry out a night attack on Tobruk, this is followed up by an attack on convoys in the Mediterranean carried out by B-24 Liberators.

Middle East Air Force

30 July 1942

Middle East Air Force

01 August 1942
B-24 Liberators carry out a night attack on a convoy in the Mediterranean, they claim 3 hits on a merchant vessel and one aircraft is lost.

Middle East Air Force

04 August 1942
B-24 Liberators carry out a night attack on shipping in the Mediterranean, claiming 2 ships.

VIII Fighter Command

05 August 1942
11 Spitfire MK V from 31st Fighter Group are sent on a practice Rodeo.

VIII Fighter Command

06 August 1942
11 Spitfire Mk V of 31st Fighter Group are despatched on a practice Rodeo, a fighter sweep over enemy territory.

Middle East Air Force

06 August 1942

VIII Fighter Command

09 August 1942
2 Spitfire Mk V from 31st Fighter Group are despatched on a defensive fighter patrol. 11 Spitfire Mk V from 31st Fighter Group are despatched to fly top cover on a feint "Rodeo" to Dieppe, France, a fighter sweep over enemy territory.

VIII Fighter Command

11 August 1942
12 Spitfire Mk V from 31st Fighter Group are despatched on a practice Rodeo, a fighter sweep over enemy territory.

VIII Fighter Command

12 August 1942
13 Spitfire Mk V from 31st Fighter Group are despateched on a feint Rodeo, a fighter sweep over enemy territory, in a wide loop over Clacton/Dunkirk/Calaise and Dover.

VIII Fighter Command

15 August 1942
2 Spitfire MK V from 31st Fighter Group are despatched on a convoy patrol. 12 Spitfire MK V are despatched on a feint sweep over the Dieppe/Etretat, France area.

Middle East Air Force

15 August 1942
B-24 Liberators carry out a night attack on Tobruk harbour.

Middle East Air Force

17 August 1942
The 12th Bomb Group enters service in the Middle East when B-25 Mitchells of the 81st Bomb Squadron attack Matruh.

VIII Bomber Command 1

17 August 1942
The US 8AF launches its first strategic bombing raid of the war, sending 12 Boeing B-17Es of the 97BG on a strike against the railyards of Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France, while another six fly a diversionary route. The attacking force is split into two...

VIII Fighter Command

18 August 1942
Fighter operations conducted by 31st Fighter Group using Spitfire aircraft: 13 despatched on "Circus 9", a daylight bomber attack with fighter escorts; 12 despatched on a patrol of the French coast; and 11 despatched to make a fighter sweep over the...

VIII Bomber Command 2

19 August 1942
Bombers from 97th Bombardment Group are despatched to bomb the German airfield Drucat at Abbeville, France. This mission is flown to occupy the Luftwaffe and to try to prevent them from opposing the invasion of Dieppe, France by over 5,000 allied...

VIII Fighter Command

19 August 1942
31st Fighter Group despatches 123 Spitfires in support of the landings at Dieppe, France. 8 are lost. These are the first operations of VIII Fighter Command units under VIII Fighter Command control....

VIII Bomber Command 3

20 August 1942
Bombers from 97BG are despatched to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Amiens/Longeau, France. 12 Spitfires from 31st Fighter Group provide escort. 31st Fighter Group also despatches Spitfires on diversions and for an RAF Lysander on Air Sea Rescue...

VIII Bomber Command 4

21 August 1942
97BG despatches 12 B-17s on a mission to bomb the shipyards and harbour facilities at Rotterdam, Holland. The mission is aborted when attacked by approximately 25 Bf-109 and Fw-190 fighter aircraft. Spitfire aircraft were despatched by 31FG as escorts...

VIII Bomber Command- ABORTED

21 August 1942

Middle East Air Force

21 August 1942
B-24 Liberators attack shipping off Crete, claiming 2 ships. One aircraft is lost at Sea after it is attacked by fighters

Middle East Air Force

22 August 1942

VIII Bomber Command 5

24 August 1942
97BG despatches 12 B-17s on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Le Trait, France.