While an officer briefing crew and ground personnel in front to the camp’s tents, the Boston of No 24 Squadron SAAF, after the takeoff for a mission over the Western Desert, overflying in formation their base, Zuara, Tripolitania, Libya, March 1943. In December of the same year the No 24 Squadron was relocated to Algeria and reequipped with Marauder (Glenn Martin B-26). Transferred in Italy after the end of North African Campaign, in 1944 the Squadron was based in front to the Italian Adriatic Coast, first at Pescara and later at Jesi. Victor Sierra

Tripolitania, 1943

Zuara, Tripolitania, Lybia, March 1943: Douglas Boston medium bomber of No 24 SAAF-South African Air Force. At beginning equipped with Martin Maryland, afterwards replaced by the Boston, the No 24 SAAF Squadron as daytime tactical bomber units carrying out bombing sorties on Mediterranean and North African targets. Note the roundels with orange inner disk orange, and not red like the RAF’s roundels, typical of South African aircraft. Victor Sierra

South African Air Force

This armorer of the R.A.F.'s middle east command prepares a bomb for its mission against the Italian forces campaigning in Africa. This big bomb is not yet fused, but when it is it will be ready for its deadly work. Photo taken on October 24, 1940. 