Raid on Sidi Haneish Airfield

Raid on Sidi Haneish Airfield
Part of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War

Colonel David Stirling with Lt Edward McDonald and other SAS soldiers in North Africa.
Date26–27 July 1942
Location31°09′45″N 27°37′38″E / 31.16250°N 27.62722°E / 31.16250; 27.62722
Result Allied victory
Belligerents
 United Kingdom
 Free France
 Germany
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom David Stirling
United Kingdom Carol Mather
United Kingdom Paddy Mayne
Unknown
Strength
Long Range Desert Group
18 armed jeeps
Special Air Service
Unknown
Casualties and losses

37 aircraft destroyed

  • Numerous casualties

The Raid on Sidi Haneish Airfield was a military operation carried out the night of 26 July 1942. A British Special Air Service unit commanded by Major David Stirling attacked a German-held airfield in Egypt during the Western Desert Campaign of Second World War. Several Luftwaffe aircraft used to ferry supplies to the Axis forces were destroyed or damaged with machine-gun fire and explosives. Axis front line units were diverted to reinforce the garrisons in the rear vulnerable to attack.[1]

  1. ^ Zabecki 2015, p. 543.