English: Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943
Squadron Leader Billy Drake photographed while Officer Commanding No. 112 Squadron RAF at Gambut, Libya. After commanding No. 128 Squadron RAF in West Africa, Drake took command of 112 Squadron, and enjoyed a period of considerable success in North Africa, shooting down 14 enemy aircraft before he was taken off operations in December 1943 to serve on the staff at RAF Headquarters Middle East. From June until November 1943 he led the Krendi fighter Wing in Malta, with whom he scored the last of his 20 confirmed victories. This was followed by six months as Wing Leader of No. 20 Wing in the United Kingdom, flying Hawker Typhoons, and a spell as Chief Flying Instructor at the Fighter Leaders School at Milfield, before he attended the United States Staff School at Fort Leavenworth. He then served on the Operations Staff of SHAEF for the rest of the war, after which he continued his RAF service, retiring as the Station Commander of RAF Chivenor, Devon, in July 1963. His final victory score was at least 20, and possibly more.
Date
between 1939 and 1945
date QS:P571,+1950-00-00T00:00:00Z/7,P1319,+1939-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,+1945-00-00T00:00:00Z/9
This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museum on the IWM Non Commercial Licence. Photographs taken, or artworks created, by a member of the forces during their active service duties are covered by Crown Copyright provisions. Faithful reproductions may be reused under that licence, which is considered expired 50 years after their creation.
Part of
InfoField
Air Ministry Second World War Official Collection
Subjects
InfoField
Associated people and organisations
Royal Air Force, 112 Squadron
Associated places
Gambut, Libya
Associated events
Western Desert 1940-1943, North Africa, Second World War
Associated themes
North Africa 1939-1945, Royal Air Force 1939-1945
Associated keywords
Operations, Aerial Warfare
Category
InfoField
photographs
Licensing
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File history
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{{User:{{subst:User:Fae/Fae}}/IWM |description = {{en|''Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943''<br/> Squadron Leader Billy Drake photographed while Officer Commanding No. 112 Squadron RAF at Gambut, Libya. After com...
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