page_title: 52nd Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade (United Kingdom)
section_title: Italian Campaign
hierarchical_section_title: 52nd Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade (United Kingdom) / Italian Campaign
caption_attribution_description: English: IWM caption&#160;: Supermarine Spitfires of No. 32 Squadron RAF undergoing maintenance in a dispersal area at Foggia Main, Italy, as a Boeing B-17F of the 15th USAAF takes off into the evening sky. Two of the Squadron's aircraft, HF Mark VIII, JF 404 'GZ-M', and HF Mark IX, MA619 'GZ-B', painted overall cerulean blue for high altitude offensive reconnaissances over the Dalmatian coast, are at left and centre, while standard camouflaged Mark IXs, such as MA802 'GZ-D', can be seen on the right.
context_page_description: 52nd Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army during World War II. Formed on the outbreak of war to control static searchlight sites in Scotland, it later operated as a headquarters for mobile anti-aircraft gun units in the Allied invasion of North Africa and subsequent Italian Campaign.
context_section_description: 52 AA Brigade spent almost a year defending the North African bases at Bizerte, Bône and Philippeville before it was finally called forward to join the Italian Campaign in April 1944. Under the command of Brig John Parkes it sailed for Barletta, arriving on 20 April with the following units:
  62nd (Northumbrian) HAA Rgt
  79th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry)HAA Rgt
  106th HAA Rgt
  29th LAA Rgt
  64th LAA Rgt
  6th US S/L Bn
  52 AAOR
  On arrival, the brigade took over command of the following units from other AA brigades already in Italy:
  55th (Kent) HAA Rgt
  76th (Gloucestershire) HAA Rgt
  100th HAA Rgt
  66th LAA Rgt
  20 AAOR
  These units were distributed to defend the important complex of airfields round Foggia, Cerignola and Spinazzola:
  Foggia:
  55th HAA Rgt; Bty 100th HAA Rgt, Trp 76th HAA Rgt – 60 x 3.7-inch guns
  29th LAA Rgt, 66th LAA Rgt – 108 x Bofors 40 mm guns
  6th US S/L Bn – 144 x S/Ls
  20, 52 AAORs
  Cerignola:
  76th HAA Rgt less one Trp – 20 x 3.7-inch
  64th LAA Rgt less four Trps – 30 x 40 mm
  Detachment 52 AAOR
  Spinazzola:
  106th HAA Rgt less 1 Bty, 1 Bty 100th HAA Rgt – 24 x 3.7-inch
  1 Bty plus 1 Trp 64th LAA Rgt – 24 x 40 mm
  The US S/L companies were deployed in two modes: for dazzle in conjunction with Bofors guns, and in an area layout for cooperation with Night-fighters.
  Over succeeding months there were minor changes: 55th (Kent) HAA Rgt left and was replaced at Foggia by 100th HAA Rgt; 106th HAA Rgt, except for one Bty, left and was replaced by 79th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) HAA Rgt. In mid-July, 52 Bde HQ took over responsibility from 8 AA Bde for half a dozen additional airfields in the 'heel' of Italy: these were defended by 22nd LAA Rgt and an LAA Wing of the Royal Air Force Regiment.
  By late 1944 the Luftwaffe was suffering from such shortages of pilots, aircraft and fuel that serious air attacks were rare. At the same time the British Army was suffering a severe manpower shortage. The result was that a number of AA units were deemed surplus and were disbanded to provide reinforcements to other arms of service. The air threat to southern Italy was now minimal, and 52 AA Bde underwent a rapid run-down: 100th HAA Regiment was disbanded, 64th and 66th LAA Rgts left to be converted into infantry, and 79th HAA and 22nd, 29th LAA and the RAF Regiment Wing were transferred to other brigades. On 15 October 1944 52 AA Bde HQ converted into HQ, 'D' Sub-Area at Foggia on the lines of communication.
caption: RAF Supermarine Spitfires and a USAAF Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress at Foggia Main airfield.
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