Page 134 - Airpower in 20th Century - Doctrines and Employment

134 airpower in 20 Century doCtrines and employment - national experienCes
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Figure 8: Pupil pilots and instructors flying in formation with North American T-6 Texan
Harvards at the RHAF Training Section in Southern Rhodesia. De Havilland D.H.82A,
Tiger Moths and Airspeed AS.10 Oxfords were also used as trainers at Service Flying
Training Schools in South Rhodesia (Archive of the History Museum, HAF 40203).

The first fully operational Squadron to enter service in the Middle East was
No.13 Light Bombing Squadron. Later on, the Fighter Squadrons 335 and 336 were
formed.
No.13 Light Bombing Squadron operated under RAF No.201 Group and its pri-
mary task was to offer air cover to sea convoys and to carry out long range recon-
naissance patrols, both during the day and the night. On July 14, 1941, the first
anti-submarine mission was carried out from Dekheila Air Base with Avro Anson.
In December 1941, the Squadron was equipped with 3 MK IV Bristol Blenheim at
Mariyut airfield outside Alexandria. In January 1942, the Squadron was converted to
the Bristol Blenheim Mk V.
From May to October 1942, No. 201 Group entrusted the Squadron with anti-
submarine and convoy patrol missions. On July 10 the Squadron was re-stationed at
the airfield of Gaza in Palestine carrying out missions over the area between Haifa,
Port Said and Beirut. Four days later, a flight of 6 Blenheims was ordered to move