Henschel Hs 126 Captured by Australia
In November 1942, personnel from No. 450 Squadron RAAF captured a serviceable Henschel Hs 126 in the Libyan desert during the Allied advance following the Second Battle of El Alamein. The aircraft had apparently been abandoned by its Luftwaffe crew near Sollum after mechanical trouble or fuel problems. It was discovered by Flight Lieutenant Derrick “Nobby” Clarke, the only RAF pilot then serving with the Australian squadron.
A recovery party from 450 Squadron travelled to the site on 13 November 1942 and carried out repairs in the field. The aircraft was made airworthy and flown back to the squadron’s base at Gambut shortly afterwards. Australian personnel repainted the aircraft with RAF roundels and the squadron code “OK,” reflecting 450 Squadron’s identification markings.
The captured Hs 126 was used mainly as a squadron “hack” aircraft for communications flights, local reconnaissance, and transport duties around North Africa. It also provided occasional flights for ground crew members. The aircraft remained with the squadron until early 1943, when it was left behind during the unit’s advance westward across Libya.
