Threat From Above

The LRDG withdrew from Murzuq under the cover of a dust storm. The dust concealed their movements and made the Italians reluctant to attempt reconnaissance flights. Over the next two days, the LRDG travelled to the towns of Taraghin, Umm …

1941-01-13

NA04

The LRDG withdrew from Murzuq under the cover of a dust storm. The dust concealed their movements and made the Italians reluctant to attempt reconnaissance flights. Over the next two days, the LRDG travelled to the towns of Taraghin, Umm Al Aranib, and Qatrun. The LRDG Was successful in capturing the fort at Taraghin, but was repelled in Umm Al Aranib by the town’s alert and heavily armed defenders. In Qatrun, the LRDG engaged the town’s garrison. The garrison was supported by Italian aircraft, which performed reconnaissance and supporting ground attack missions. Eventually, the LRDG broke off the attack without defeating the garrison.

Qatrun, Libya

The Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) was a reconnaissance and raiding unit of the British Army during the Second World War. Originally called the Long Range Patrol (LRP), the unit was founded in Egypt in June 1940 by Major Ralph Alger Bagnold, acting under the direction of General Archibald Wavell. Bagnold was assisted by Captain Patrick Clayton and Captain William Shaw. At first, the majority of the men were from New Zealand, but they were soon joined by Southern Rhodesian and British volunteers, whereupon new sub-units were formed and the name was changed to the better-known Long Range Desert Group (LRDG). The LRDG never numbered more than 350 men, all of whom were volunteers.

Wikipedia: Long Range Desert Group

German

British