Air and ground crews of No 417 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force line up for bully and tea on a desert airfield in North Africa, May 1943. The RCAF’s No 417 Squadron was transferred from Fighter Command to the Desert Air Force and sent to the Middle East in June 1942. In February 1943 the No 417, equipped with Spitfire, was moved to Tripoli and incorporated into No 244 Wing. After the North African campaign the No 417 was deployed in Italy. Victor Sierra

Tea party on desert

Spitfire pilots of No. 417 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, having a meal outside a tent at Goubrine in Tunisia, April 1943. Victor Sierra

A meal outside the tent

Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vbs of No. 417 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, flying in loose formation over the Tunisian desert on a bomber escort operation, 1943. Formed in England on 27 November 1941 at RAF Charmy Down, known as the "City of Windsor", and equipped with Hurricanes, the No 417 Squadron RCAF, was deployed in Egypt and, re-equipped with Spitfires, followed the Allied advance through the North African Western Desert and based in Tunisia. After the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, the 417 Squadron was deployed in Italy, for follow the Allied advance, where was disbanded on July 1, 1945. Victor Sierra