7 September 1940
Northern Front
The No.430 (RAF) Flight is active during this day as a Vickers Vincent (a second is damaged at takeoff) and two Gloster Gauntlet take off from Azzoza, at 11h20, to attack the airfield of Metemma. After the bombardment at 13h05, a Caproni Ca.133 was sighted by Flight Lieutenant A.B. Mitchell (Gloster Gauntlet K5355). The latter immediately attacks the Italian aircraft and damages it seriously, forcing it to a forced landing. In order to destroy it permanently, Flight Lieutenant Mitchell still executes four passes by dropping his bombs (two 11 kg incendiary bombs) and ending with machine gun. However, the few Italian documents do not mention any loss of Caproni Ca.133 for this day [1].
Front Sud
No.11 (SAAF) Squadron returns to Mogadishu, with four aircraft, to bomb the old vehicles already reported as well as several Caproni Ca.133 of which one is claimed destroyed. Once again at least three IMAM Ro.37bis of the 110 Squadriglia RT intervene. Lieutenant Corrie van Vliet succeeds in placing himself within six hours of an Italian but his machine gun jams, while Air Sergeant Van Heerden (machine gunner of Captain Johan LV of Wet on No. 905) claims one. In any case, the higher speed of Fairey Battle greatly limits the danger posed by IMAM Ro.37bis [3].
[1] C. Shores et C. Ricci, Dust Clouds in the Middle East, op. cit., p. 58 à 59; J. Sutherland et D. Canwell, Air War East Africa, the RAF versus the Italian Air Force, op. cit., p. 66 ; Håkan Gustavsson, « Gloster Gauntlet », op. cit. ; Håkan Gustavsson, « Flight Lieutenant A. B. Mitchell », Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War , http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_mitchell.htm
[2] « 7 september 1940 » 14 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.; « 7 september 1940 » 47 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.; « 7 september 1940 » 223 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.; M. Napier, Winged Crusaders: The Exploits of 14 Squadron RFC & RAF 1915-45, op. cit.
[3] « 7 september 1940 Operation Instruction 52 + Operation Order No 20 » 11 Bomber Squadron SAAF, War Dirary, op. cit.; C. Shores et C. Ricci, Dust Clouds in the Middle East, op. cit., p. 59; J. Sutherland et D. Canwell, Air War East Africa, the RAF versus the Italian Air Force, op. cit., p. 66; P.D. Tidy, « Major Cornelius Arthur van Vliet, DFC », op. cit.
