10 Septembre 1940
Northern Front
In the night, British troops launch an attack on Fort Kassala. No. 14 (RAF) Squadron sends, at 11h15, three Vickers Wellesley in support. They are intercepted shortly after by two Fiat CR.42. The Vickers Wellesley K7763 (James A. Ferguson Pilot Officer, James Lynch Pilot Officer [1], Sergeant Thomas Conway [2]) was shot down, only the pilot was POW, while a second bomber was claimed. In any case, the bombardment does not seem to have a major effect, as the Italians repel the ground attack shortly after [3].
According to Christopher Shores and Corrado Ricci, on that date, Regia Aeronautica had lost 84 aircraft (all causes), while 143 members were killed and 71 wounded [4].
Southern Front
Following the imminent departure of No. 237 (Rhodesia) Squadron, No. 40 BAF Squadron (SAAF) was ordered to join Garissa to replace them. [5]
[1] « Casualty details : Lynch, James », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2272478/LYNCH,%20JAMES
[2] « Casualty details : Conway Thomas », Commonwealth War Graves Commission : http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2272334/CONWAY,%20THOMAS
[3] « 10 september 1940 » 14 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.; C. Shores et C. Ricci, Dust Clouds in the Middle East, op. cit., p. 59 à 60 ; J. Sutherland et D. Canwell, Air War East Africa, the RAF versus the Italian Air Force, op. cit., p. 66 à 67.
[4] C. Shores et C. Ricci, Dust Clouds in the Middle East, op. cit., p. 60.
[5] « 10 september 1940 » 40 Squadron SAAF, War Diary (November 1939 – January 1941), Kew – TNA, AIR 54/79.
