Desert Air Force
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The Desert Air Force (DAF), later known as the First Tactical Air Force, was an Allied tactical air force formed during World War II, and was made up of squadrons from the Royal Air Force, the South African Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force.
The DAF was formed in North Africa to close air support to the Eighth Army in its campaigns during World War II. The DAF provided support to the Eighth Army until the end of the war, fighting through Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Sicily and mainland Italy.
Although the mainstay of the DAF, the P-40 Kittyhawk, was a highly sucessfully ground attack aircraft, it was merely adeqaute when it came to air to air combat with the Aeronautica Militare Italiana. And when the German Luftwaffe arrived in the theatre, its Messerschmitt Bf-109s inflicted severe losses on the slower and less agile P-40s.
The Australian contribution included RAAF No. 3 Squadron which arrived in North Africa on August 23, 1940 and served with the DAF until the closing stages of the war in Europe, when it was transferred to the Australian First Tactical Air Force in the Pacific. By that time 3 Sqn had the most substantial service record of any DAF squadron, including the greatest number of kills.
Personnel who served with the Desert Air Force were awarded the Africa Star campaign medal with a bronze rosette in the "bar" position on the ribbon.Template:Mil-stub