AHQ Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean
Introduction '''Air Headquarters Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean''' (Air H.Q. Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean or AHQ Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean) was a sub-command of RAF Middle East Command which itself was a sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command during World War II. Air H.Q. Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean was established on 4 March 1943, by renaming the RAF command known as AHQ Egypt. Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul was the only commander of Air HQ Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean which was renamed Air HQ Eastern Mediterranean on 1 February 1944.
Order of battle On 10 July 1943, when the Allied forces invaded Sicily (Operation Husky), Air H.Q. Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean consisted of four fighter groups. '''Air HQ Air Defences Eastern Mediterranean''''''''Air Vice Marshal Richard Saul'''''''Commanders and Squadron Assignments'' No. 209 (Fighter) Group''Group Captain R.C.F. Lister'' No. 210 (Fighter) Group''Group Captain John Grandy'' No. 212 (Fighter) Group''Air Commodore Archibald Wann'' No. 219 (Fighter) GroupGroup Captain Hon. Max Aitken No. 46 Squadron RAF Det., Beaufighter No. 3 Squadron SAAF, Hurricane No. 7 Squadron SAAF, Hurricane No. 46 Squadron RAF, Beaufighter No. 127 Squadron RAF, Hurricane/Spitfire No. 33 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 41 Squadron SAAF, Hurricane No. 74 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 89 Squadron RAF, Beaufighter No. 80 Squadron RAF, Spitfire No. 238 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 213 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 94 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 335 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 274 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 108 Squadron RAF Det., Beaufighter No. 336 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 123 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 451 Squadron RAAF, Hurricane No. 134 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 237 Squadron RAF, Hurricane No. 1563 Met. Flight, Gladiator No. 1654 Met. Flight, Gladiator'''Notes:'''SAAF=South African Air Force; RAAF=Royal Australian Air Forces; Det.=Detachment; Met.=Meteorological.
Notes
References * Craven, Wesley F. and James L. Cate. The Army Air Forces in World War II, Volume 2, Chicago, Illinois: Chicago University Press, 1949 (Reprinted 1983, ). * Richards, D. and H. Saunders, The Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (Volume 2, HMSO, 1953). * Army Air Forces Historical Office Headquarters, Participation of the Ninth & Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, Army Air Forces Historical Study No. 37, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 1945. * Air of Authority - A history of RAF organisation.