Raid on Sidi Haneish Airfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raid on Sidi Haneish Airfield
Part of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War
Colonel David Stirling with Lt Edward McDonald and other SAS soldiers in North Africa.
Date 26–27 July 1942 Location Sidi Haneish Airfield, north-western Egypt 31°09′45″N 27°37′38″E / 31.16250°N 27.62722°E / 31.16250; 27.62722 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  Free France	Germany
Commanders and leaders
David Stirling Carol Mather Paddy Mayne	Unknown
Strength
Long Range Desert Group 18 armed jeeps Special Air Service	Unknown
Casualties and losses
2 killed in action 3 jeeps lost	37 aircraft destroyed Numerous casualties

The Raid on Sidi Haneish Airfield was a secret military mission during World War II. It happened on the night of July 26, 1942, in Egypt. A special British army unit, the Special Air Service (SAS), led by Major David Stirling, attacked a German airfield. They destroyed or damaged many German planes, which were used to bring supplies to the German and Italian armies. This raid also made the enemy send more soldiers to protect their bases, taking them away from the main fighting.

Why the Raid Happened

Axis Supply Problems

During World War II, German and Italian forces in North Africa faced big problems getting supplies. By 1942, Allied forces were sinking many of their supply ships in the Mediterranean Sea. This meant that a lot of food, fuel, and equipment never reached the soldiers.

Because of these losses, the German air force, called the Luftwaffe, had to help. They started flying supplies by air to the troops. The desert land in North Africa made it hard to move things by road. So, planes often flew between small desert airfields to deliver what was needed.

Meet the Special Air Service

In July 1941, Major David Stirling created a new, daring unit called the Special Air Service (SAS). These soldiers were chosen from other British units. They learned how to parachute and carry out surprise attacks behind enemy lines.

The SAS became famous for their brave raids on German bases. They would sneak in and blow up parked aircraft. Stirling was so good at these missions that the Germans called him the "Phantom Major."

Planning the Attack

Major Stirling had been planning to attack the Sidi Haneish Airfield for a while. This airfield was a very important German base in Egypt. For this raid, Stirling wanted to try something new. Instead of sneaking in quietly, they would storm the base using vehicles.

He asked the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) for help. The LRDG were experts at driving long distances in the desert. They provided 18 special jeeps for the raid. Each jeep was armed with four Vickers K machine guns. These guns could fire very fast and were usually used on airplanes.

The plan was for the raiders to drive about 50 miles (80 km) through the desert. Then, they would attack the airfield in two lines of jeeps, with Stirling leading the way. They even had a practice run the night before the actual raid.

The Daring Raid

The raid began on the night of July 26, 1942. The 18 jeeps, each carrying three or four British or French soldiers, drove through the desert. They had no headlights on. The night was perfect, with a bright full moon and no clouds.

As they got close to the airfield, lights suddenly came on along the runway. The soldiers worried they had been seen. But it turned out the lights were just for a German bomber that was landing. Stirling fired a green flare, and the jeeps charged onto the airfield in a 'V' shape.

The SAS soldiers opened fire with their machine guns. They shot at the German planes parked on the ground. These included Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers, Ju 52 cargo planes, and Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter planes. German soldiers fired back with machine guns and anti-aircraft guns. One jeep was hit and stopped working. A 21-year-old SAS soldier, Lance Bombardier John Robson, was sadly killed. He was the only Allied soldier lost during the attack itself.

The raiders used almost all their ammunition. They made one last pass to check for any planes they missed. Paddy Mayne, another SAS leader, even placed a bomb in the engine of a parked bomber before they left. The SAS destroyed or damaged around 40 German planes.

The Escape

After the attack, the raiders quickly drove into the desert. They split into smaller groups of three to five jeeps. They needed to escape before daylight, as German planes could easily spot them from above.

During the day, they hid their vehicles and themselves, camouflaging them in the desert. Most of the groups made it safely back to their hideout. However, one group of French soldiers had trouble. Their jeeps got flat tires and broke down. This left them exposed in the open desert.

Four German Stuka dive-bombers spotted them. The planes attacked them nine times. Sadly, a paratrooper named André Zirnheld was badly wounded and died. After the German planes ran out of ammunition, the remaining French soldiers got into their last working jeep and reached safety.

What Happened Next

The raid was a huge success. Many of the destroyed German planes were large transport aircraft. Losing these planes made it even harder for the German and Italian armies to get their supplies. This helped the Allies in the war.

Major David Stirling was later captured by the Germans in January 1943. He spent the rest of the war in prisoner of war camps. Paddy Mayne took over as the commander of the SAS after Stirling's capture.

See also

• Raid on Bardia
• Operation Caravan
• Long Range Desert Group
• Desert warfare
• List of North African airfields during World War II