Benghazi in WW2 History | World War II Database

10 May 1941

Libya

British destroyers HMS Kelly, HMS Kipling, HMS Jackal, HMS Kashmir, and HMS Kelvin from Malta bombarded Benghazi, Libya at 1700 hours; German dive bombers fought back but caused no damage. After nightfall, also in Libya, British gunboat HMS Ladybird shelled Gazala 30 miles west of Tobruk. ww2dbase [Siege of Tobruk | Kelly | Benghazi | CPC]

30 Jan 1942

Libya

Hans-Joachim Marseille arrived in Benghazi, Libya. ww2dbase [Hans-Joachim Marseille | Benghazi | CPC]

7 Mar 1942

Libya

The 3rd Battalion of the "San Marco" naval infantry regiment of Italian Navy was transferred from Antelat to Benghazi in Libya for coastal defense duty. ww2dbase [Benghazi | CPC]

18 Jun 1942

Libya

Hans-Joachim Marseille boarded a Ju 52 aircraft at Benghazi, Libya for Naples, Italy, where he was to transfer to Rome, Italy for his final destination of Berlin, Germany. ww2dbase [Hans-Joachim Marseille | Benghazi | CPC]

23 Jun 1942

Libya

USAAF B-24D bombers of Halverson Provisional Detachment, temporarily based in Egypt while being prepared to transfer to China, attacked Axis positions at Benghazi, Libya. ww2dbase [Benghazi | CPC]

13 May 1943

Libya

26 B-24s of USAAF 44th Bomb Group launched from Benina Airfield in Libya at 0400 hours. 20 of them reached their target, the Wiener Neustadter Air Frame Works in occupied Austria. They encountered 40% cloud coverage. They dropped 159 500-pound bombs between 8,000 to 15,000 feet in altitude. The rear flight observed flame and smoke in the target area, with large buildings on fire accompanied by large explosions. The Germans had 16 anti-aircraft guns at the target area, and the firing was reported to be inaccurate. 5 to 10 Fw 190 fighters and 10 to 15 Me 109 fighters attempted to intercept during the bombers' flight back to Libya, to little effect. The bombers experienced anti-aircraft fire at Bokaloloraska in Yugoslavia and at the west end of Lake Balaton in Hungary. 1 B-24 bomber became missing, and the Germans lost 1 Me 109 and 1 Fw 190 aircraft from this action. 21 of the surviving US bombers landed at Tunis in Tunisia, and 5 landed in Sicily, Italy, all without damage. B-24 "Wing and a Prayer" piloted by 1st Lieutenant Robert J. Lehnhausen of US 68th Squadron ran out of fuel and successfully landed his B-24 on a small landing strip with many craters in Sicily, causing only minor damage to his aircraft. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Benghazi | HM]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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