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.9 Master. Part one. Some Foreign Users

 

The Miles M.9 Master was a British two-seat monoplane which was used as an advanced trainer. It was designed by Frederick G. Miles and manufactured by his own company, Miles aircraft Ltd. The Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm were its main users, but the type was also used by many other countries, among them, the following ones:

• Egypt: The Royal Egyptian Air Force employed no less than 23 and no more than 26 Miles Master II (an improved variant powered by Bristol Mercury engines) in 1944. As we couldn't find graphical evidence, the drawing and markings should be considered as speculative.
• South Africa: The Miles Master II was one of the main trainer aircraft of the South African Air Force (SAAF) as 453 machines were supplied. Twenty-five Masters were lost at sea and didn't arrive to their destination.
• Turkey: The Turkish Undersecretariat of Military Aviation (forerunner of the Turkish Air Force which was officially formed in 1944) planned to order 100 Master II aircraft in the early 1940s. However, as their American-made Curtiss-Wright CW-22 were still working fine, the ordered number decreased to 27. In July 1943 the first 8 Master II were shipped to Turkey and two years later 12 additional machines were sent. They were used as target-tows in various air-regiments and were kept in active duty until 1948 when they were replaced by the North-American Texan.
• United States: Many United States Army Air Force (USAAF) units stationed in Great Britain during World War 2, employed a total of 44 Master II machines as target tugs and communication aircraft. As we couldn't find graphical evidence, the drawing should be considered as speculative.

Sources:

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

2. Scale Aircraft Modelling - vol.19 nº08 (1997.10) - Miles Military Trainers

3. http://www.tayyareci.com/digerucaklar/turkiye/1923ve50/miles-master.asp

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 

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford, part six, African users

The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a British twin-engined multi-role aircraft that served in great numbers through the World War 2 and after. With more than 8.500 machines manufactured, it saw service with many air forces throughout the world. Among them the following ones:

• Belgian Congo: In April 1944 six Oxfords were acquired by the Force Publique (Public Force - the local Gendarmerie and Military force of the Belgian Congo). They served in the photo reconnaissance and light transport role until July 1955 when the Belgian Air Force declared the Oxfords as obsolete given the poor condition of their wooden fuselage. They were all moved to Brussels to be scrapped.
• Egypt: During World War 2 the Royal Air Force loaned some Oxfords T.1 (the trainer variant) to the Royal Egyptian Air Force. They were assigned to the No.4 Squadron. The loaning continued after the war and until 1948 when the last one was transferred. They were used most probably during the first Arab-Israeli War in 1948 as makeshift bombers but any further detail about their fate is unknown.
• Southern Rhodesia: As part of the Empire Air Training Scheme many flying schools present in Rhodesia during the World War 2, operated with the Oxford. These were the Nos.20, 23 & 21 SFTS (Service Flying Training Squadron), at Salisbury and Bulawayo respectively, No.24 Bombing Gunnery and Navigation (previously known as No.24 Combined Air Observation School), No.29 Elementary Navigation School all of them at Moffat, in Gwelo and the Rhodesian Central Flying School (AKA Rhodesian Air Training Group), No.33 Flying Instructors School and the Central Flying School (Southern Rhodesia), all of them based at Norton.
• South Africa: As part of the Commonwealth Air Training Plan, the South African Air Force was allocated around 700 Oxfords which arrived to South Africa in November 1940. They were assigned to many training units all around South Africa such as the 21, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 62, 65 and 66 Air Schools. Due to the intense training many of them, 256 machines, were lost in accidents. Most of them were withdrawn in 1945 when the war ended and were sold two years later in 1947.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airspeed_Oxford#Other_users

2. http://www.belgian-wings.be/Webpages/Navigator/Photos/MilltaryPics/post_ww2/Airspeed%20Oxford/airspeed_oxford%20frontpage.htm

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_Publique#Aviation

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_of_the_Egyptian_Air_Force

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_Commonwealth_Air_Training_Plan_facilities_in_Southern_Rhodesia

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_Commonwealth_Air_Training_Plan_facilities_in_South_Africa

Supermarine Sea Otter, Foreign Users

The Supermarine Sea Otter was a British amphibious aircraft designed and built by Supermarine. It was exported to various countries throughout the world:

• Denmark: After the World War 2, the Danish government bought seven Sea Otters to serve with the Royal Danish Air Force (being at the same time the last biplane and the first aircraft with a retractable undercarriage to serve with them) both in the patrol and flying school roles. When serving in the patrol role, it was, most probably, assigned to the 721 Eskadrille (721 Squadron) and served alongside the Consolidated Catalina PBY-6A.
  The Sea Otter had bad reputation among Danish pilots due to the position of the engine over the centre of gravity, which gave some very distinctive flying characteristics to the aircraft.
  The first exemplar was delivered to the Royal Danish Air Force in December 1946 and the last one in November 1947. As their radar was already outdated by those years, it was dismantled and they flew without any radar at all. An eighth one was bought to be used as a source for spare parts. In Danish hands, it served both in the patrol and school role until 3rd May 1952 when it was written off.
• Egypt: Apparently, the Royal Egyptian Air Force had some Sea Otters serving with their Air Force in the aftermath of the Second World War. Not very much is known about them, but they probably served during the First Arab-Israeli War (1948-1949) but saw no combat at all and were phased out as obsolete in the early 1950s. As we couldn't find any source about the Sea Otter in Egyptian hands, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
• France: The French Navy received 17 Sea Otters, delivered in two lots. A first batch of 10 aircraft was purchased in 1947 from the British Royal Navy, which were assigned to the Escadrille 8S of the Aéronavale (French Navy's Air Arm) and were inmediately sent to operate in Indochina, based in Cat-Lai. Some hollow fuselages were also bought to serve as sources for spare parts.
  Some accidents struck two Sea Otters, numbered JN 122 and JN 127. They were sent to mainland France for repairs, but, thanks to the spare parts available, the JN 122 was repaired in Cat-Lai and renumbered as JN 1220.
  A second squadron, Escadrille 9S was formed thanks to a second delivery of seven aircraft in 1950 which were also sent to French Indochina.
  The last flight of a French Sea Otter took place on 21st March 1952, when the remaining 10 exemplars that were left in Indochina were written off the Aeronavale.
• Netherlands: The Dutch Naval Aviation Service bought at the beginning of the 1950s eight Sea Otters, three of them being of civilian origins and the rest being ex-Royal Air Force aicraft plus an unknown number of them in late 1950 for spare parts. As some of them were intended to serve aboard the HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81) aircraft carrier, two of them were equipped with a rear hook for deck landing.
  All of them were assigned to the 320 Squadron which was based at the air base of Valkenburg. The last one was delivered in December 1950 and shortly later, in February 1951 the first one was withdrawn from active service due to its poor technical condition.
  In May 1951, with the formation of the S&R (search and rescue) flight, almost every Sea Otter from the 320 Squadron, was transferred there. The Sea Otters were also transferred to Squadron 5 (which was a training one) and some of them were also sent to the newly formed Squadron 8 which a mixed one composed also by B-25 Mitchells.
  During February 1953 the Sea Otters had to perform many S&R missions over the North Sea and shortly later, in August 1953 they were withdrawn from service as their role was overtook by helicopters.

Sources:

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

2. http://aerophile.over-blog.com/article-le-supermarine-sea-otter-103994429.html (translated)

3. https://kw.jonkerweb.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=567:supermarine-sea-otter-asr-mk1-uk&catid=96&lang=en&limitstart=1&Itemid=558

Macchi C.205 - Foreign users

The Macchi C.205 Veltro (Greyhound) was an Italian fighter of the World War 2 that it's considered as the best Italian one in that conflict. It was used by many foreign users.

• Australia: The No.3 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force captured one Macchi C.205 in Italy during the summer of 1943. It was flown by Brian Eaton, commander of the Squadron who praised the airplane for its maneouvrability and speed.
• Egypt: During the postwar, the Royal Egyptian Air Force bought 62 Veltros, being 41 of them conversions from the Macchi C.202. However due to delivery problems, only 15 of them saw brief combat during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War when some of them, equipped with underwing bomb racks, where used to attack Israeli positions. In January 1949 an Egyptian pilot claimed an Israeli P-51D Mustang in exchange of three Veltros claimed by the Israeli Air Force. 
• Germany: The German Luftwaffe equipped the II.Gruppe of the JG.77 for two months, from October until December 1943. They weren't really impressed by the Veltro and they were replaced by the Bf.109. 
• Croatia: A small number of Veltros managed to serve with the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia durin 1944 but they were quickly overwhelmed by the Allied fighters. 

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_C.205

2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters