Air support for the Army from July 1941

As previously noted, the No.253 Army Cooperation Wing had been formed for the expressed purpose of providing air support for the Army. The wing was now part of the Western Desert Air Force. Joint army RAF exercises were conducted, starting in July 1941. One step that was defined by September was to provide an Air Support Control Headquarters (ASC). These units were provided to corps headquarters and to armoured divisions. Each brigade had a "tentacle" that could communicate with wireless telegraphy to the ASC. They functioned as forward air controllers, as we would call them. The ASC units only came into existence by 8 October, when the first two were formed. This is based on the account in Vol.II of the Official History.