On 15th May 1942 Flying Officer V.D. Fletcher, a Rhodesian, was taken a few miles out from Heliopolis, shown a square of open desert with four pegs marking the corners and told to “Get on with it.”

This was to mark the beginning of the most famous Mechanical Transport Company in the Royal Air Force.
Although little has been written previously about “51” ~ the men of this unit did magnificent work during the North African Campaign and made a significant contribution to Rommel’s eventual defeat.

This is their story ~ in words and pictures.