RAF Gambut
Near: Kambut, Libya
Abandoned German aircraft at Gambut after its recapture by the Allies (December 1941)
RAF Gambut is located in Libya
RAF Gambut
RAF Gambut
Location in Libya
Coordinates31°57′04″N 024°30′14″E / 31.95111°N 24.50389°E / 31.95111; 24.50389
Site history
Battles/warsWorld War II

RAF Gambut (or RAF Kambut) is a complex of six abandoned military airfields in Libya, located about 5 kilometres (3 mi) north-northeast of the village of Kambut, and 50 kilometres (31 mi) east-southeast of Tobruk. During World War II, the complex was an important facility, used by the Royal Air Force. A large number of RAF squadrons were based there for a time.

History

Axis forces captured Gambut on the 17th June 1941, after the Battle of Tobruk.[1] This was a significant blow to the Allies as the airfield had been used to provide air-support to the Allied forces besieged at Tobruk. The airfield saw use by the German Luftwaffe until its recapture by the New Zealand 4th Infantry Brigade on the 25 November.[2]

The United States Army Air Forces deployed the air echelon of Eighth Air Force's 93d Bombardment Group to Gambut on 16 December 1944, and it remained until 23 February 1943.[3] Ninth Air Force's 376th Bombardment Group used the airfield between 3 January and 22 February 1943.

Today the remains of the airfields – deteriorating under the desert sands – are visible on aerial photographs.

Airfields at Gambut

This station consisted of four airfields known as Gambut 1 (LG-139), this being the main airfield, Gambut 2 (LG-142), Gambut 3 (LG-143) and Gambut West, which may have been Gambut 4, 5 and 6 (LG-156, 158 and 159)

RAF Designation US Designation Location
Gambut Main (No.1) LG-139 31°52′5″N 24°29′5″E / 31.86806°N 24.48472°E / 31.86806; 24.48472
Gambut No. 2 LG-142 31°51′5″N 24°32′5″E / 31.85139°N 24.53472°E / 31.85139; 24.53472
Gambut No. 3 LG-143 31°50′5″N 24°36′5″E / 31.83472°N 24.60139°E / 31.83472; 24.60139
Gambut Comms No. 4 LG-156 31°54′0″N 24°25′5″E / 31.90000°N 24.41806°E / 31.90000; 24.41806
Gambut No. 5 LG-159 31°52′0″N 24°25′5″E / 31.86667°N 24.41806°E / 31.86667; 24.41806
Gambut No. 6 LG-158 31°50′0″N 24°39′0″E / 31.83333°N 24.65000°E / 31.83333; 24.65000

Major units assigned

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Royal Air Force[4]

Gambut Main (No.1)

6, 11, 14, 33, 38, 45, 46, 47 55, 73, 80, 84 108, 112, 113, 145, 148, 162, 203, 208, 227, 229, 237, 238, 250, 252, 274, 294, 450, 454, 468

Gambut (No.2)

73, 112, 250, 274, 450

Gambut (No.3)

14, 73, 117, 250, 294, 454, 459, 603

Gambut West

73, 92, 145, 208, 213, 238, 601

See also

References

Citations
  1. ^ Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). Rommel's Desert War: The Life and Death of the Afrika Korps. Stackpole Books. p. 81. ISBN 0811734137.
  2. ^ Mitcham, Samuel W. (2007). Rommel's Desert Commanders: The Men Who Served the Desert Fox, North Africa, 1941-1942. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 101. ISBN 0275994368. ((cite book)): |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. pp. 160–162. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
  4. ^ "RAF Gambut". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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