RAF Gambut (or RAF Kambut) is a complex of six abandoned military airfields in

Libya Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...

, located about north-northeast of the village of

Kambut Kambut, sometimes is known as Gambut, is a village in eastern Libya, some east of Tobruk. It is a site of an old military airfield in World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a W ...

, and east-south-east of

Tobruk Tobruk ( ; ; ) is a port city on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District (formerly Tobruk District) and has a population of 120,000 (2011 est.)."Tobruk" (history), ''Encyclop� ...

. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, the complex was an important facility, used by the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...

and many RAF squadrons were temporarily based there.

History

Gambiut was an airfield of

Regia Aeronautica The Royal Italian Air Force (''Regia Aeronautica Italiana'') (RAI) was the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Regio Esercito, Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946. In 1946, the monarchy was ...

. Axis forces re-captured Gambut on 17 June 1941, after the Battle of Tobruk. This was a significant blow to the Allies as the airfield had been used to provide air-support to the Allied forces in the

Siege of Tobruk The siege of Tobruk () took place between 10 April and 27 November 1941, during the Western Desert campaign (1940–1943) of the World War II, Second World War. An Allies of World War II, Allied force, consisting mostly of the 9th Division ...

. The airfield saw use by the Luftwaffe until its recapture by the New Zealand 4th Infantry Brigade on 25 November. Today the remains of the airfields – deteriorating under the desert sands – are visible on aerial photographs.

Airfields at Gambut

This station consisted of six airfields known as Gambut 1 (LG139), this being the main airfield, Gambut 2 (LG142), Gambut 3 (LG143), Gambut West/Gambut 4 (LG156), Gambut 5 (LG159) and Gambut 6 (LG158)

RAF Gambut - Luftwaffe Map

Major units assigned

; Commonwealth air forces ( RAF except where stated.) Gambut Main (No.1) ;Units * Squadrons : 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 (

RAAF The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the principal aerial warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army. Constitutionally the governor-general of Aus ...

), 454 (RAAF) * HQ, 239 Wing (1 Mar – 17 Jun 1942, 14–15 Nov 1942) * HQ, 243 Wing (May – 20 Jun 1942) * HQ, 233 Wing (14–18 Nov 1942) * HO, 223 Wing ( SAAF) Gambut (No.2) ;Units * Squadrons : 73, 112, 250, 274, 450 (RAAF) * HQ, 233 Wing (22 May – 28 Jun 1942) Gambut (No.3) ;Units * Squadrons : 14, 73, 117, 250, 294, 454 (RAAF), 459 (RAAF), 603 * HQ, 235 Wing (3 Dec 1942 – 29 Feb 1944) Gambut West ;Units * Squadrons : 73, 92, 145, 208, 213, 238, 601 * HQ, 285 Wing (14–20 Nov 1942) ; United States Army Air Forces *

12th Bombardment Group 012 may refer to: * Tyrrell 012, a Formula One racing car * The dialing code for Pretoria Pretoria ( ; ) is the Capital of South Africa, administrative capital of South Africa, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive bra ...

(

North American B-25 Mitchell The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allies of World War ...

) **

434th Bombardment Squadron The 434th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was organized in January 1941 as the 19th Reconnaissance Squadron, and became the 434th in 1942. After training in the United States, it moved to the Mediterranean ...

17 December 1942 – 16 February 1943 * 93d Bombardment Group 16–25 February 1943 (

Consolidated B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models desi ...

) **

409th Bombardment Squadron 4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is a square number, the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. Evolution of the Hi ...

16 Dec 1942 – 25 February 1943 *

376th Bombardment Group 376th may refer to: *376th Air Expeditionary Wing, inactive wing of the United States Air Force, last stationed at the Transit Center at Manas International Airport, Kyrgyz Republic * 376th Air Refueling Squadron, inactive United States Air Force u ...

10–25 February 1943 (B-24 Liberator) * 57th Fighter Group 13–20 November 1942 (

Curtiss P-40 Warhawk The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter-bomber that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry ...

)

References

;Citations ;Bibliography * *

External links

* http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-G.htm
German map
of Gambut {{DEFAULTSORT:Gambut Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Libya Royal Air Force stations of World War II in Africa Defunct airports World War II airfields in Libya Airfield complexes

History

Airfields at Gambut

Major units assigned

See also

References

External links