General George S. Patton served as the Commanding General of the London Base Command 

On 06/08/1942, Lieutenant General George S. Patton Jr. was in London preparing for Operation Torch, the planned Allied invasion of North Africa. Having arrived in the United Kingdom in late July 1942, Patton participated in high level planning discussions for the amphibious landings scheduled for November. He was designated Commanding General of the Western Task Force, the formation assigned to land in French Morocco, including objectives at Casablanca, Safi, and Port Lyautey. Patton’s responsibilities in early August 1942 centered on operational planning, coordination with naval forces, and preparation of American units for amphibious assault. The Western Task Force was composed primarily of U.S. troops transported directly from the United States, supported by naval forces under Rear Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt. Planning efforts in London focused on landing schedules, logistics, command relationships, and coordination with other Torch forces advancing from the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean. Patton’s role remained tied to the upcoming North African campaign, and he did not hold a separate command such as a London base or administrative headquarters during this period. Operation Torch commenced on 08/11/1942, when Patton personally commanded the Western Task Force landings in Morocco. The force secured Casablanca after several days of fighting, establishing a foothold for subsequent Allied operations in North Africa.