New aircraft, new designations in January 1942

As previously mentioned, the Curtis Kittyhawk had arrived in North Africa and was in service in January 1942. They initially served with No.3 Squadron RAAF and were in action over Antelat on 1 January 1942. Another new aircraft was the Consolidated Liberator, which could carry a large bomb load for a long distance. The Liberator was used to bomb Tripoli on 11 January. With four engined bombers now in service with the RAF as heavy bombers, the Wellingtons became medium bombers (instead of heavy bombers) and the smaller Blenheim, Maryland, Boston, and Baltimore (not yet in service) were reclassified as light bombers, as in the US parlance. At the same time, the Italians introduced the biplane CR42 in the fighter-bomber role. This is based on the account in Vol.III of the Official History.