Supermarine Spitfire. African Users. Part One. Egypt.

 

In February 1945 Egypt acquired a total of 26 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc Trop to update their fighter squadrons. Deliveries began that same month and all of them were scond-hand aircraft, some of them being worn out or even damaged, having to be repaired.  Some of them received some ad-hoc field modifications like having six exhausts, instead of the standard three the Mk.V was equipped with. All of them belonged to the 'Trop' sub-variant which was equipped with a Vokes dust filter, giving them that characteristic appearance.
During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Mk.Vs were employed to patrol quieter coastal areas far from the frontlines.
One year later, in 1946 the Royal Egyptian Air Force (REAF) bought 38 Spitfire Mk.IX which operated both in Nos. 1 and 2 squadrons and were employed during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War in a wide variety of combat related roles, where they clashed with their Israeli foes in more than one occasion.
It is reported that the REAF also got at least one T.Mk.IX (a  two-seater trainer conversion of the Mk.IX) in 1950. This order was supplemented by a batch of 20 Spitfire F.Mk.22 on 1st May 1950, however, it is believed that only 19 were delivered and the last one was replaced by the aforementioned T.Mk.IX. 
Although little information is known about Egyptian usage of the Spitfire Mk.22, it is believed that at least one was used during the 1956 Suez Crisis to perform reconnaissance flights over the Sinai Peninsula. 
In any case, by that time, October 1956 they were already retired from service and, most probably, scrapped.

Sources:
1st Hellion & Company - Middle East at War 54 - Air Power and the Arab World 1909-1955 Volume 8 The Revival in Egypt and Iraq 1943-1945
2nd https://www.destinationsjourney.com/historical-military-photographs/supermarine-spitfire-in-egyptian-service/
3rd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire_operational_history
4th https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/egyptian-spitfires.38588/

Miles M.14 Magister, part two, American and African users.

 

The Miles M.14 Magister is a two-seat trainer monoplane designed and manufactured by Miles aircraft which was used by various Commonwealth users around the globe, among them, the following ones:

• Canada: The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) employed an unknown number of Magisters as basic trainers. As we couldn't find graphical evidence, the drawing should be considered as speculative. 
• Egypt: Forty-two Miles Magisters are known to have served with the Royal Egyptian Air Force (REAF). They constituted the main trainer of the REAF during World War 2 and the immediate post-war period. 
• South Africa: Many Magisters are known to have served with the South African Air Force (SAAF) as elementary trainers. They served along the M.2 Hawk, which was the earlier variant of the type.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_Magister

2. Scale Aircraft Modelling - October 1997 - Miles Military Trainers

3. Putnam & Co. - Miles aircraft since 1925 

Avro Anson, part two, African users

The Avro Anson was a British twin-engined multi-role aircraft built by Avro. With more than 11.000 built, it was one of the most numerous aircraft made. It served with many Air Forces throughout its entire career. Among them, the following African ones:

• Egypt: Egypt was one of the countries that ordered Ansons before the World War 2. The first one, an Mk.II, was sent in November 1936 with three Mk.Is being delivered in 1938 for use in the communications role. In 1939 they became part of the No.3 Communications Squadron. In January 1945 three additional ex-RAF machines were provided and an unspecified number were also given to Egypt shortly later, some of which are thought to have ended up in Iran. Eventually, two Anson squadrons were formed, No.3 and No.4 at REAF Almaza and REAF Helwan. 
• Ethiopia: The Imperial Ethiopian Air Force bought two Avro Anson C.19 in January 1946. They were assigned to the communications and transport unit which was formed in Bishoftu Air Base. 
• Southern Rhodesia: The Southern Rhodesian Air Force (SRAF) received numerous Ansons as part of the Commonwealth Air Training Programme. All of them served in the school role and served with No.24 Combined Air Observation School, which later would become No.24 Bombing Gunnery and Navigation and No.29 Elementary Navigation School, all of them based at RAF Moffat, in Gwelo.
  After the war, the SRAF was re-structured and they received many Anson T.Mk.20, a navigation trainer variant which was specifically designed for its use overseas. It served widely with the SRAF in the Nos. 4, 5, 3 and Rhodesian Air Training Group Communications Squadron.
  The No.4 Squadron SRAF, based at RAF Heany, in Bulawayo and was dedicated to the Flying Training School. It was equipped with Ansons, among other machines. It was formed in February 1947 and was disbanded in January 1954.
  The No.5 Squadron was based at RAF Thornhill, in Gwelo. It was also a Flying Training School which was also equipped with, among others, Avro Ansons T.Mk.20/21. It served for a brief period of time as it was created in April 1947 but in January 1948 it was disbanded to be renamed as the No.3 Air Navigation School, this time equipped exclusively with Ansons and served until September 1951 when it was disbanded.
  The Rhodesian Air Training Group's Communications Squadron was also equipped with, among other machines, Avro Ansons. It was based at RAF Kumalo, in Bulawayo too, and was created in September 1947. It was disbanded in March 1954.

Sources:

1. Hall Park Books - Warpaint 53 - Avro Anson

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Anson

3. https://www.valka.cz/Avro-Anson-t54872

4. http://zimfieldguide.com/harare/rhodesia-air-training-group-ratg-1940-–-1945-and-statistics-fatalities-commonwealth-war

Supermarine Walrus, part one, foreign and civilian users

The Supermarine Walrus was a British single-engined amphibious biplane reconnaissance aircraft that was designed by Reginald J. Mitchell, the same one who designed the Supermarine Spitfire and flew for the first time in 1933. It was designed to be used as a fleet spotter on board of cruisers and battleships. It was used by many foreign countries:

• Argentina: After the end of the war, the United Kingdom sold eight Walrus and two of them to operate on board the ARA La Argentina (C-3) cruiser until as late as 1958. The remaining six operated with the Argentinean Navy from shore bases.
• Australia (Civilian): As the Royal Australian Navy had a surplus of Walruses after the war, a single aircraft that was in storage was issued to the Royal Australian Air Force's Antarctic Flight in 1947, to operate from Heard Island. It flew just one time and was badly damaged by a storm. It was recovered in 1980, restored between 1993 and 2002 and nowadays is at display at the Royal Australian Air Force Museum.
• Egypt: Apparently the Royal Egyptian Air Force had some Walruses in inventory that served through the World War II. However, as we couldn't find graphical evidence about them, the drawing should be considered as completely speculative.
• United Kingdom (Civilian): The most famous case of a British civilian Walrus was the brief use that United Whalers, a whaling company, gave. They operated from the factory ship MV Balaena which operated in Antarctic waters and was equipped with surplus navy aircraft catapult. Those aircraft were slightly modified as they were equipped with electrical sockets to power the electrically heated suits worn by the crew under their inmersion suits. A small petrol-burning cabin heater was also installed to maintain crew confort during flights that could take up to five hours. 

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Walrus

2. https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=588