8 January 1941
Northern Front
Christopher Shores reports that Italian air defence claims a British bomber destroyed over the sea during an attack on Massawa.[1] It is, however, difficult to square this claim with the events of the day. Thus No.14 (RAF) Squadron took a break during the day before moving on to other objectives in the following days.[2] No.47 and 223 (RAF) Squadron also appear to have no operational activity.[3] It would, therefore, be possible that this claim is more related to the events of the previous day when No.14 and 223 (RAF) Squadron had indeed reported heavy anti-aircraft activity and some damage to the aircraft involved.
Southern Front
The day is mainly marked by the loss of Junkers Ju.52 n°668 [4] of No.50 (SAAF) Squadron during a flight to Nairobi. The aircraft reportedly crashed into a hill near Mbeya (Tanzania). The entire crew (Lieutenant Petrus J. de Villiers[5] ; Lieutenant Nathan L. Gordon[6] ; Air Corporal Richard S. Martin[7] and Air Mechanic Richard.G. Edwards[8]) and passengers (Air Sergeant Isak M. van Niekerk[9], Coenraad E. van Aswegen[10], Clement J. Rivers[11], E.I. Finlayson[12], Walter Olivier[13] et Richard A.H. Gray[14] ; Air Mechanic Edgar G. Lang[15], Robert J.A. Pennel[16], William V. Oliver[17], Isaac H. Grek[18], William C. Els[19] et Andries A. Nel[20]) are killed. According to the investigation report, the fatal accident is due to: the pilot’s complete lack of experience in instrument flight (very poor visibility is reported) and a strong overload of the aircraft during this flight[21].
[1] SHORES, Christopher ; RICCI, Corrado. Dust Clouds in the Middle East – The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940 – 1942. London : Grub Street, 2010 (Reprinted). p. 94 ; SUTHERLAND, Jon. Air War East Africa (1940 – 1941). The RAF versus the Italian Air Force. Barnsley : Pen and Sword Aviation, 2009. p.86.
[2] No.14 (RAF) Squadron : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541). Kew : TNA, AIR 27/192 ; NAPIER, Michael. Winged Crusaders : The Exploits of 14 Squadron RFC & RAF 1915 – 1945. Barnsley : Pen & Sword, 2013.
[3] No.47 (RAF) Squadron : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541). Kew : TNA, AIR 27 / 463 ; No.223 (RAF) Squadron : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541). Kew : TNA, AIR 27/1374
[4] W. BRENT, 85 tears of South African Air Force (1920 – 2005), Nelspruit, Freeworld Publications, coll. « African Aviation Series », 2005, p.94.
[5] « Casualty details : De Villiers, Petrus Johannes », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818226/de-villiers,-petrus-johannes/
[6] « Casualty details : Gordon, Nathan Lesar », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818230/gordon,-nathan-lesar/
[7] « Casualty details : Martin, Richard Stephen », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818234/martin,-richard-stephen/
[8] « Casualty details : Edwards, Richard George », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818227/edwards,-richard-george/
[9] « Casualty details : Van Niekerk, Isak Malherbe », Commonwealth War Graves Commission ; https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818241/van-niekerk,-isak-malherbe/
[10] « Casualty details : Van Aswegen, Coenraad Edward », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818240/van-aswegen,-coenraad-edward/
[11] « Casualty details : Rivers, Clement John », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818239/rivers,-clement-john/
[12] « Casualty details : Finlayson E.I. », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818229/finlayson,-/
[13] « Casualty details : Olivier, Walter », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818237/olivier,-walter/
[14] « Casualty details : Gray, Richard Alfred H. », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2818232/richard-alfred-h-grey/
[15] « Casualty details : Lang, Edgar Gordon », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818233/lang,-edgar-gordon/
[16] « Casualty details : Pennel, Robert Joseph Arthur », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818238/pennel,-robert-joseph-arthur/
[17] « Casualty details : Olivier, William Vivian », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818236/oliver,-william-vivian/
[18] « Casualty details : Grek, Isaac Harry », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818231/grek,-isaac-harry/
[19] « Casualty details : Els, William Christoffel », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818228/els,-william-christoffel/
[20] « Casualty details : Nel, Andries Albertis », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2818235/nel,-andries-albertis/
[21] January 1941 – Narrative Northern Operations SAAF. Kew : TNA, AIR/54/9 ; No.40 (SAAF) Squadron, War Diary. Kew : TNA, AIR 54/5.
