"Royal Air Force Operations in the Middle East and North Africa, 1939-1943." Two Supermarine Spitfire Mark VB(T)s, AB326 and AB345, running up their engines at Helwan, Egypt, shortly after their arrival from Takoradi, Gold Coast, on the West African Air Reinforcement Route. Both aircraft were immediately passed to No. 145 Squadron RAF, the first unit to be equipped with the Spitfire in the North African theatre.