Western Desert, Egypt. 13 November 1942. RAF ground crews refuelling the tanks in the front line ...

Western Desert, Egypt. 13 November 1942. RAF ground crews refuelling the tanks in the front line from a petrol bowser (tanker) at right. Advanced units of the RAF refuelled in the front line Army tanks which had been held up for lack of petrol in the battle for Sidi Barrani. Eight hundred yards away ten German 88mm guns shelled the road and twice while the refuelling was in progress, Messerschmitt Bf109 fighter aircraft attacked the vehicles. Valuable time was saved and congestions on the road avoided by this timely aid from the RAF. Transport was moving up quickly and the vehicles in front saw columns had stopped. In a short time the tanks were in action again, and the convoys moved on. Our desert squadrons are mobile. Ground Maintenance and Repair Units, Stores and Administrative organisations can pack up and take to the road at two hours notice. They follow the advance so quickly that in the shortest possible time Allied aircraft are pressing home attacks from the most forward airfields. The unit which carried out the refuelling of the tanks was right in the front line until it was established at its final base.