Bristol Beaufighters, perhaps belonging to No. 600 Squadron RAF, of the Mediterranean Air Command going in to attack a steamer while conducting a sweep of the Bay of Naples for enemy shipping. The vessel, which was probably carrying ammunition, blew up shortly afterwards. The Mediterranean Air Command (MAC) was an Allied Air Force Command Organization in the North African and Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) active between February 18 and December 10, 1943. The photo was taken within this two dates. Victor Sierra

In the Bay of Naples

Bristol Beaufighter “Y-York” T5173 of No 272 Squadron, Royal Air Force, escorting a convoy bound for Tripoli, perhaps Spring 1943. In this time the Squadron was based a Malta, Ta Kali Airfield. Victor Sierra

Convoy under escort

Nice photo of a de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in civilian use by HISR Airlines (an "ancestor" of EgyptAir), refueling at Luxor Airport.  The date is unclear; it could be either late prewar or immediate postwar, as it is not certain at what point HISR Airlines started to use the "Rapide".

The Dragon Rapide was designed as a short-range civilian passenger airliner.  It was judged comfortable and very airworthy (good stability in particular) for an airliner of that period, and was very successful with a wide range of airlines in the late 1930s.  Some 200 civilian "Rapides" were produced for civilian use in that period.  However, the main user of the aircraft turned out to be the RAF, for whom some 500 were produced in the course of WW2.  Apart from being stable and comfortable, the "Rapide" was surprisingly tough, bearing in mind that it was built from plywood.  The RAF found it ideal for communications and transport duties (personnel and light freight) through the course of the war.  The aircraft in RAF use were designated the de Havilland Dominie.  It was on such an aircraft that Charles de Gaulle and General Edward Spears flew from France to England on 17 June, 1940.

It may be of further interest that the operators of the pictured aircraft, HISR Airlines, was financed to a degree of 85 per cent by the Egyptian HISR Bank with the intention of promoting Egypt's involvement in aviation.  Like the airline (by way of EgyptAir), the HISR Bank still exists, albeit by way of a number of "transformations".  Best regards, JR.