The RAF and Commonwealth squadrons that flew the Ventura GR Mk V in the maritime role from the North African coastline were a pretty nomadic lot, moving from one desert landing ground to another and they all had a very similar routine. Amongst them was 459 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), whose nickname was 'The Desert Scorpions', and it was established in Egypt as one of seventeen 'Article XV' squadrons that formed part of Australians commitment to the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (alongside 44 RCAF and six RNZAF units). Under this arrangement Australia, Canada and New Zealand agreed to provide operational units for service under RAF command that were manned by aircrew who were trained under the BCATP in the appropriate country, however the RAAF more than met this demand by providing additional units from within its own numbering system too, such as 10 Squadron, which flew Sunderlands throughout the war, and 3 Squadron which operated a succession of Gladiators, Hurricanes, Tomahawks, Kittyhawks and Mustangs.
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