British Forces

Flying over orange groves

Imperial War Museum

A Douglas Dakota of No. 216 Group RAF, flying over orange groves and farmland in Apulia, Italy, while delivering supplies to RAF wings at Grottaglie, Southern Italy, 1944. Established as No. 216 (Ferry) Group on May 21, 1942, on September 9 of same year was renamed No. 216 (Air Transport and Ferry) Group acting as a command of the RAF. Afterwards the No. 216 Group became a major sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command that was created at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943. On March 25, 1943, No. 216 Group also became a sub-command of the newly created British Transport Command and was in action from the Southern Italy’s bases on the Balkans and Mediterranean theater. Victor Sierra