RAF Gambut
| RAF Gambut | |
|---|---|
| Near: Kambut, Libya | |
|
Abandoned German aircraft at Gambut after its recapture by the Allies (December 1941) | |
  RAF Gambut Location in Libya | |
| Coordinates | 31°57′04″N 024°30′14″E / 31.95111°N 24.50389°ECoordinates: 31°57′04″N 024°30′14″E / 31.95111°N 24.50389°E |
| Site information | |
| Operator |
 Luftwaffe (National Socalist) Royal Air Force United States Army Air Forces |
| Controlled by |
German Luftwaffe (1941-1942) Royal Air Force (1942-44) Ninth Air Force (1942-43) |
| Site history | |
| In use | 1941-1944 |
| Battles/wars | |
RAF Gambut (or RAF Kambut) is a complex of six abandoned military airfields in Libya, located about 5 kilometres (3 mi) north-northeast of the village of Kambut, and 50 kilometres (31 mi) east-southeast of Tobruk. During World War II, the complex was an important facility, used by the Royal Air Force. A large number of RAF squadrons were based there for a time.
History
Axis forces captured Gambut on the 17th June 1941, after the Battle of Tobruk.[1] This was a significant blow to the Allies as the airfield had been used to provide air-support to the Allied forces besieged at Tobruk. The airfield saw use by the German Luftwaffe until its recapture by the New Zealand 4th Infantry Brigade on the 25 November.[2]
Today the remains of the airfields – deteriorating under the desert sands – are visible on aerial photographs.
Airfields at Gambut
This station consisted of four airfields known as Gambut 1 (LG-139), this being the main airfield, Gambut 2 (LG-142), Gambut 3 (LG-143) and Gambut West, which may have been Gambut 4, 5 and 6 (LG-156, 158 and 159)
| RAF Designation | No. Designation | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Gambut Main (No.1) | LG-139 | 31°52′5″N 24°29′5″E / 31.86806°N 24.48472°E |
| Gambut No. 2 | LG-142 | 31°51′5″N 24°32′5″E / 31.85139°N 24.53472°E |
| Gambut No. 3 | LG-143 | 31°50′5″N 24°36′5″E / 31.83472°N 24.60139°E |
| Gambut Comms No. 4 | LG-156 | 31°54′0″N 24°25′5″E / 31.90000°N 24.41806°E |
| Gambut No. 5 | LG-159 | 31°52′0″N 24°25′5″E / 31.86667°N 24.41806°E |
| Gambut No. 6 | LG-158 | 31°50′0″N 24°39′0″E / 31.83333°N 24.65000°E |
Major units assigned
- Royal Air Force[3]
Gambut Main (No.1)
- Known squadrons (dates assigned undetermined)
- 6, 11, 14, 33, 38, 45, 46, 47 55, 73, 80, 84 108, 112, 113, 145, 148, 162, 203, 208, 227, 229, 237, 238, 250, 252, 274, 294, 450, 454, 468
- HQ, No 239 Wing (1 Mar - 17 Jun 1942, 14 - 15 Nov 1942)
- HQ, No 243 Wing (May - 20 Jun 1942)
- HQ, No 233 Wing (14 - 18 Nov 1942)
- HO, No 223 Wing (South African AF)
Gambut (No.2)
- Known squadrons (dates assigned undetermined)
- 73, 112, 250, 274, 450
- HQ, No 233 Wing (22 May - 28 Jun 1942)
Gambut (No.3)
- Known squadrons (dates assigned undetermined)
- 14, 73, 117, 250, 294, 454, 459, 603
- HQ, No 235 Wing (3 Dec 1942 - 29 Feb 1944)
Gambut West
- Known squadrons (dates assigned undetermined)
- 73, 92, 145, 208, 213, 238, 601
- HQ, No 285 Wing (14 - 20 Nov 1942)
- United States Army Air Forces[4]
- 12th Bombardment Group (B-25 Mitchell)
- 434th Bombardment Squadron 17 December 1942- 16 February 1943
- 93d Bombardment Group 16-25 February 1943 (B-24 Liberator)
- 409th Bombardment Squadron 16 Dec 1942 - 25 February 1943
- 376th Bombardment Group 10-25 February 1943(B-24 Liberator)
- 57th Fighter Group 13-20 November 1942 (P-40 Warhawk)
See also
- List of World War II North Africa Airfields
References
- Citations
- ↑ Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). Rommel's Desert War: The Life and Death of the Afrika Korps. Stackpole Books. p. 81. ISBN 0811734137.
- ↑ Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). Rommel's Desert Commanders: The Men Who Served the Desert Fox, North Africa, 1941-1942. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 101. ISBN 0275994368.
- ↑ "RAF Gambut". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ↑ Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. pp. 160–162. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
- Bibliography
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
External links
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