Image: Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. CNA282

Description: Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. Group Captain P H "Dutch" Hugo (left), Commanding Officer of No. 322 Wing RAF, and Wing Commander R "Raz" Berry, who took over leadership of the Wing in January 1943, conversing at Tingley, Algeria. Petrus Hendrik Hugo, a South African, joined the RAF on a short-service commission in February 1939. He flew with No. 615 Squadron RAF during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, and became a flight commander in September 1941. He was posted to command No. 41 Squadron RAF in November 1941, and then took over the leadership of the Tangmere Wing in April 1942 but was shot down (for a second time) and wounded shortly after. On recovery Hugo became Wing Leader at Hornchurch, but was soon posted to lead No. 322 Wing in the forthcoming invasion of North Africa (Operation TORCH). He took command of the Wing in November 1942 and added significantly to his victory score over Algeria and Tunisia. From March to June 1943, Hugo served on the staff at HQ North-West African Coastal Air Force, but returned to command 322 Wing in Malta, Sicily, France and Italy until it disbanded in November 1944. Having achieved 17 confirmed and 3 shared victories, he then joined the staff HQ Mediterranean Allied Air Forces and finished the war flying with the Central Fighter Establishment.
Title: Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943. CNA282
Credit: http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//52/media-52156/large.jpg This photograph CNA 282 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.
Author: Daventry B J H (Fg Off), Royal Air Force official photographer
Permission: This image was created and released by the Imperial War Museum on the IWM Non Commercial Licence. Photographs taken, or artworks created, by a member of the forces during their active service duties are covered by Crown Copyright provisions. Faithful reproductions may be reused under that licence, which is considered expired 50 years after their creation.
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No