The Northwest African Tactical Air Force (NATAF) was a component of the Northwest African Air Forces which itself reported to the Mediterranean Air Command (MAC). These new Allied air force organizations were created at the Casablanca Conference in January 1943 to promote cooperation between the British Royal Air Force (RAF), the American United States Army Air Force (USAAF), and their respective ground and naval forces in the North African and Mediterranean theater of World War II .  Created on February 18, 1943, the NATAF and other MAC commands existed until December 10, 1943, when MAC was disbanded and the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) were established. 
 Acting Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham , who had been air officer commanding Western Desert Air Force became the commander of NATAF. and the WDAF became part of the new NATAF
 The components of NATAF at the time of the Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) on July 10, 1943, are illustrated below.
 
 No. 2 Squadron, Supermarine SpitfireNo. 4 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 5 Squadron, Curtiss Kittyhawk
 522nd Squadron, North American A-36 Mustang523rd Squadron, A-36 Mustang524th Squadron, A-36 Mustang
 No. 12 Squadron, Douglas Boston light bomberNo. 21 Squadron, Martin Baltimore light bomberNo. 24 Squadron, Boston
 No. 3 Squadron RAAF, KittyhawkNo. 112 Squadron RAF, KittyhawkNo. 250 Squadron RAF, KittyhawkNo. 260 Squadron RAF, KittyhawkNo. 450 Squadron RAAF, Kittyhawk
 525th Squadron, A-36 Mustang526th Squadron, A-36 Mustang527th Squadron, A-36 Mustang
 No. 55 Squadron, BaltimoreNo. 223 Squadron, Baltimore
 No. 1 Squadron SAAF, SpitfireNo. 92 Squadron RAF, SpitfireNo. 145 Squadron RAF, SpitfireNo. 417 Squadron RCAF, SpitfireNo. 601 Squadron RAF, Spitfire
 58th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk59th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk60th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk-99th Squadron, P-40, Detached
 No. 18 Squadron, BostonNo. 114 Squadron, Boston
 No. 81 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 152 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 154 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 232 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 242 Squadron, Spitfire
 314th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk315th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk316th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk
 84th Squadron, A-20 Havoc light bomber85th Squadron, A-20 Havoc86th Squadron, A-20 Havoc97th Squadron, A-20 Havoc
 No. 43 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 72 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 93 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 111 Squadron, SpitfireNo. 243 Squadron, Spitfire
 307th Squadron, Spitfire308th Squadron, Spitfire309th Squadron, Spitfire
 81st Squadron, North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber82nd Squadron, B-25 Mitchell83rd Squadron, B-25 Mitchell434th Squadron, B-25 Mitchell
 64th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk65th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk66th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk
 486th Squadron, B-25 Mitchell487th Squadron, B-25 Mitchell488th Squadron, B-25 Mitchell489th Squadron, B-25 Mitchell-
 85th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk86th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk87th Squadron, P-40 Warhawk
 No. 40 Squadron SAAF, Detatchment., SpitfireNo. 60 Squadron SAAF, de Havilland MosquitoNo. 1437 Flight RAF, Mustang
 
For Operation Husky, No. 242 Group RAF, originally a component of NATAF in February 1943, was assigned to the Northwest African Coastal Air Force (NACAF).  At the same time, Air Headquarters, Western Desert became known as Desert Air Force.  All of the fighter units of Desert Air Force formed No. 211 (Offensive Fighter) Group commanded by Air Commodore Richard Atcherley on April 11, 1943, in Tripoli.  The 99th Fighter Squadron (one of the Tuskegee Airmen units) was assigned to the XII Air Support Command on May 28, 1943, and subsequently attached to the 33rd Fighter Group.  The actual squadron assignments and detachments varied throughout the war depending on the specific needs of the air force. 
 The table above illustrates the squadron assignments and commanders for the important period of World War II when the Allies prepared to invade Italy (Operation Husky), having just won the war in North Africa with the end of the Tunisia Campaign.  In recognition of XII Air Support Command's operations in Sicily, Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower presented Major General Edwin House with the Legion of Merit and  saying that "...for the first time established the application of a tactical air force operating in support of an American Army."