Air Vice-Marshal Dawson

Air Vice-Marshal Dawson was sent to the Middle East from the Ministry of Aircraft Production. He role was as Chief Maintenance and Supply Officer was to oversee the assembly of new aircraft, including any modifications, the maintenance of aircraft, their storage, and supplying associated equipment and parts. He arrived in June 1941. There had been four maintenance units in the Middle East, three focused on repairs and one on ordnance. No.103 at Aboukir was heavily bombed and was moved. No.102 had fallen into disuse and had practically ceased to exist. More was moved to the Massara caves, and it was expanded to deal with storage and repair, becoming the No.111 Maintenance Unit. When Aboukir was under attack, it was partially moved to Heliopolis. The became a new repair unit. The British Overseas Aircraft Corporation largely supplied the staff. This is based on the account in Vol.II of the Official History.