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WWI Desert Air Force - Palestine Brigade of Royal Flying Corps 22620

2,762 views · Published 1 September 2014 · 11:22 · Indexed 22 September 2026

Channel: PeriscopeFilm · 2014 · Education

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This exceptionally rare film shows activities of the Palestine Brigade of the Royal Flying Corps, later Royal Air Force, which was formed 5 October 1917. The RFC brigade was created in response to General Allenby's request for an air formation for his planned offensive against the Ottoman Empire in Palestine. It consisted of all Royal Flying Corps operational units based in the Middle East which were east of Suez. Forming part of Royal Flying Corps Middle East and it was initially commanded by Brigadier-General W G H Salmond who retained command of RFC Middle East. In December 1917, command of the Palestine Brigade ceased to be held by the commander of RFC Middle East. Brigadier-General A E Borton was appointed Brigade Commander and Salmond, who had been promoted to Major-General, was GOC RFC Middle East. Although Borton answered directly to Allenby for operational matters, Salmond maintained a keen interest in the activities of the Palestine Brigade.

The Palestine Brigade consisted of two wings. The first was 5th (Corps) Wing - tasked with aerial cooperation and direct support to Allenby's ground formations. The second was the 40th (Army) Wing - formed at the same time as the Palestine Brigade and tasked with counter-air missions and attacking the Ottoman and German support infrastructure. In addition, by the summer of 1918 the Brigade also had a balloon company, an aircraft park, an aircraft depot and an engine repair depot. In August, the Brigade was strengthened by the addition of a single Handley Page 0/400 biplane which had been flown from England.

The Palestine Brigade saw action throughout the Palestine Campaign, most notably at the Battle of Megiddo when the retreating Ottoman Seventh Army was destroyed on Nablus-Beisan road by aerial attack.

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com

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