215664 Fredrick Eric Cannings Royal Air Force My cousin Fredrick Cannings served as an RAF Commando during WW2. He was part of the allied initiative 'Operation Torch' The operation commenced on November 8th 1942.
Operation Torch was the name given to the Allied invasion of French North Africa in November 1942. Operation Torch was the first time the British and Americans had jointly worked on an invasion plan together.
From North Africa, the plan was to invade Sicily and then on to mainland Italy and move up the so-called “soft underbelly” of Europe. Victory in the region would also do a great deal to clear the Mediterranean Sea of Axis shipping and leave it more free for the Allies to use.
On the 9th of November, a squadron of Hurricanes flew from Gibralter and landed at Maison Blanche in Algiers, where they were fuelled and armed. Later that day, about 20 German Junkers JU88 aircraft were seen heading toward Algiers on a bombing mission . The Hurricanes were scrambled and Frederick has mentioned a ginger haired Flight Commander, who was beaten to his aircraft by another pilot and threatened what he would do to them on returning from the battle. This was probably forgotten when 18 JU88 aircraft were destroyed, by a combination of Hurricanes and Bofors guns.
I would like to discover the identity of the said commander. Does anyone know?
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