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°E / 31.95111; 24.50389Coordinates: 31°57′04″N 024°30′14″E / 31.95111°N 24.50389°E / 31.95111; 24.50389
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	World War II Western Desert Campaign

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 17 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 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 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).

Captured 1942 German Luftwaffe map of the airfield complex


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 / 31.86806; 24.48472
Gambut No. 2	LG-142	31°51′5″N 24°32′5″E / 31.85139°N 24.53472°E / 31.85139; 24.53472
Gambut No. 3	LG-143	31°50′5″N 24°36′5″E / 31.83472°N 24.60139°E / 31.83472; 24.60139
Gambut Comms No. 4	LG-156	31°54′0″N 24°25′5″E / 31.90000°N 24.41806°E / 31.90000; 24.41806
Gambut No. 5	LG-159	31°52′0″N 24°25′5″E / 31.86667°N 24.41806°E / 31.86667; 24.41806
Gambut No. 6	LG-158	31°50′0″N 24°39′0″E / 31.83333°N 24.65000°E / 31.83333; 24.65000

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)

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. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
↑ "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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Gambut.

http://www.rafweb.org/Stations/Stations-G.htm
German map of Gambut

Links to related articles

USAAF Ninth Air Force in World War II

Stations

Palestine (Mand)	Lydda Muqueibile Ramat David St Jean

Egypt	Abu Sueir Ismailia El Amiriya Daba Deversoir Fayid Kabrit * Landing Ground 174 Payne Sidi Haneish

Libya	Baheira Belandah Benina Castel Benito Berca Darragh El Adem El Assa Gambut Hamraiet Lete Martuba Tmed El Chel Tobruk Tripoli Sidi Azeiz

Tunisia	Ben Gardane Bou Grara Chekira Hani Hazbub Hergla El Djem El Haouaria Kairouan Medenine Menzel Heurr Sfax Soltane

United Kingdom	Aldermaston Andover Andrews Field Ashford Balderton Barkston Heath Beaulieu Birch Bisterne Boreham Bottesford Boxted Charmy Down Chalgrove Chilbolton Chipping Ongar Christchurch Cottesmore Earls Colne Exeter Folkingham Fulbeck Gosfield Great Dunmow Greenham Common Grove High Halden Headcorn Holmsley South Hurn Ibsley Kingsnorth Langar Lashenden Little Walden Lymington Matching Membury Merryfield Middle Wallop North Witham Ramsbury Raydon Rivenhall Saltby Scorton Staplehurst Spanhoe Stansted Stoney Cross Thruxton Upottery Warmwell Welford Weston Zoyland Wethersfield Winkton Woodchurch Wormingford

Europe	Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany too numerous.

Units

Commands

Wings

Bombardment	97th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 99th Bombardment

Fighter	8th Fighter 9th Fighter 70th Fighter 71st Fighter 84th Fighter 100th Fighter 303d Fighter

Troop carrier	50th Troop Carrier 52d Troop Carrier 53d Troop Carrier

Groups

Bombardment	12th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 322d Bombardment 323d Bombardment 340th Bombardment 344th Bombardment 376th Bombardment 386th Bombardment 387th Bombardment 391st Bombardment 394th Bombardment 397th Bombardment 409th Bombardment 410th Bombardment 416th Bombardment

Fighter	36th Fighter 48th Fighter 50th Fighter 57th Fighter 79th Fighter 324th Fighter 354th Fighter 358th Fighter 365th Fighter 362d Fighter 363d Fighter 366th Fighter 367th Fighter 368th Fighter 370th Fighter 371st Fighter 373d Fighter 404th Fighter 405th Fighter 406th Fighter 474th Fighter

Troop carrier	61st Troop Carrier 64th Troop Carrier 313th Troop Carrier 314th Troop Carrier 315th Troop Carrier 316th Troop Carrier 349th Troop Carrier 434th Troop Carrier 435th Troop Carrier 436th Troop Carrier 437th Troop Carrier 438th Troop Carrier 439th Troop Carrier 440th Troop Carrier 441st Troop Carrier 442d Troop Carrier IX Troop Carrier Pathfinder (Provisional)

Reconnaissance	10th Reconnaissance 67th Reconnaissance 69th Reconnaissance

Squadrons

Liaison	14th Liaison 47th Liaison

Night fighter	422d Night Fighter 425th Night Fighter

United States Army Air Forces

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