RAF West Malling over the Channel. The three surviving aircraft were rescued only when the fight was joined by Hurricanes from No. 111 Squadron. The remainder of the unit returned north to RAF Prestwick on 25 July due to the ineffectiveness of the Defiant against single-seat fighters. No. 29 Squadron flying Bristol Beaufighters arrived for its first tour of duty on 27 April 1941. One of the Squadron's pilots, Guy Gibson VC, later officer commanding 617 Squadron on the Dambusters Raid, said of the station "Of all the airfields in Great Britain ... we have the most pleasant". A regular and long-standing inhabitant,
RAF Gaza RAF Gaza RAF Gaza was a Second World War RAF airfield in the present day Gaza Strip, probably on the site of Karni crossing. During the Second World War RAF Gaza was used by a number of RAF squadrons, including 33, 45, 127, 208, 318 and 451 Squadrons. No.2 Air Crew Officers School was based on the airfield, and the Greek Training Flight was also based there in 1941–1942. The airfield was used as the Middle East ammunition depot from July to September 1942. It was in use by 1941, and may have first been used earlier. RAF Gaza was