Middle East

This section includes the air forces during the World War II (pre-jet) period from the following countries:

{short description of image}Egypt

The Egyptian Air Force started with Hurricanes and Spitfires from the Desert Air Force donated by the RAF in 1943. At the time of the 1948 War, the EAF was well-armed with mostly British equipment:

{short description of image} Iraq

The Iraqi Air Force was equipped with a few obsolete aircraft given by the British, and a few of what it considered modern ones - but of a rather second class, like the Breda Ba.65 - some 60 in all. In April, 1941, at German urgings and with the promise of supporting Luftwaffe air units, the Iraqi government was overthrown by pro-nationalist prince of the Royal house backed by a cabal of officers (the Golden Square). The military of Iraq was thrown against the British presence, which included the British Middle East RAF training school at Habbinayah.

The most modern aircraft at Habbinayah were 9 Gladiators, everything else being older and more obsolete. Some 9,000 Iraqi ground troops and light artillery came to lay seige, but were beaten off by strafing attacks and attacks by the 400 troops airlifted in just before the seige. Began. By the time relieveing troops appeared (HabForce, coming in from Transjordan), the seige ha dalready been lifted and the beseiging force retreated.

Meanwhile, the promised Axis air support finally materialized however weakly: He111s, Bf110s and CR.42s flew into Mosul through Syria. However, supporting them by air at such a distance proved too difficult (and in the face of the collapse of the Iraqi rebellion) and the air units were withdrawn after only a couple of weeks.

{short description of image}Israel

The Israeli Air Force started with with a handful of S-199s purchased from Czechoslovakia in 1948 a few months before independence. They were actually delivered about a month before Independence (one at a time partially disassembled in a DC-3), and the Israelis began to train with them about two weeks before independence was declared.

By October, 1948, they added:

After the 1948, they added some Mosquito FB.VI bought from France.

Turkey

The Turkish Air Force (Turk Hava Kuvvetleri- THK) existed well before WW2; indeed it was fairly large. Turkey received gifts and reduced-price sales from both the Allied and Axis powers during the early years of the war and the year proceeding it. Late in the war, Turkey officially joined the allies, earning it yet more aircraft.

Aircraft include:

24 PZL P.24c Purchased from Poland 1936-38.
45 Morane-Soulanier MS.406 Purchased from France 1939-40.
15 Hawker Hurricane I
14 Hawker Hurricane IIC		 Purchased from Britain 1940.
30 Bristol Blenheim Is
+ Blenheim IVs + Vs + Beaufort Is		 Purchased from England before 1939.
Armed 3 companies of bombers.
30 Heinkel He111F-1s
5 Heinkel He111G-5s		 Straight wing versions of He111E. Purchased from Germany 1938-39.
17 Curtiss P-40Es Tomahawks Purchased from the United States in 1942..