Case Studies in the Achievement of Air Superiority - Air Force ...

AIR SUPERIORITY
the command structure of the Allied air forces in the Mediterranean and
planned Allied strategy for the future conduct of the war. One of the many
decisions made during the Casablanca meeting was to change the entire
Allied command structure in the Mediterranean. Eisenhower was appointed
Commander in Chief of all Allied forces in the Mediterranean, with three
deputy commanders who were British officers. Cunningham was named
commander of all Allied naval forces in the Mediterranean; Gen. Sir Harold
Alexander was to be Deputy Commander in Chief and was placed in command
of the 18th Army Group consisting of all Allied ground forces in the
Mediterranean. Air Marshall Sir Arthur Tedder was named Commander of
all Allied Air Forces in the Mediterranean. It was intended by the CCS that
this new command structure would go into effect in February, after the
British forces in Libya had joined the Allies in Tunisia.47
It was understood by all that victory in Tunisia depended on the Allies
gaining air superiority in the central Mediterranean and that this could not
be done until the Allied command structure in North Africa was reformed.
What the CCS did was to agree to a plan put forth by the British entitled
“System of Air Command In The Mediterranean.” This scheme called for
a single commander in chief of all Allied air forces in the Mediterranean.
This new command would consist of the Northwest African Air Forces
(Spaatz), the AOC-in-C, Middle East (Air Chief Marshal Sir Sholto Douglas),
and AOC Malta (Air Vice Marshal Sir Keith Park). For operations in
Tunisia, Spaatz’s command would be subordinate to Harold Alexander.48
The American Joint Chiefs of Staff agreed with the British proposal for a
“unified command” of all Allied air forces in the Mediterranean. After the
meeting had ended, Marshall informed Portal that the appointment of
Tedder to be the new commander in chief of all the Allied air forces in the
Mediterranean would be agreeable to the Americans. Tedder was a natural
choice for the position, for in addition to serving as AOC-in-C Middle East,
many of his ideas were incorporated in the directive establishing the new
Mediterranean Air Command.49
The most important force under Tedder’s command was Spaatz’s
Northwest African Air Forces (NWAAF), which were to operate over
Tunisia and the Central Mediterranean. These forces were activated on
February 18, while the Allied Air Force and the Eastern Air Command
were abolished, and the Twelfth Air Force ceased to exist except on paper
for legal and administrative
The Northwest African Air Forces were divided into three major combat
commands and several support organizations along functional rather
than national lines. Coningham, a New Zealander and former commander
of the Western Desert Air Force, was placed in command of the Northwest
African Tactical Air Force, which supported Allied ground forces. His second
in command was Kuter. The Northwest African Strategic Air Force,
consisting of all American heavy bombers, some medium bombers, plus
246