Northern Front

In the opening days, Vickers Wellesleys provide the main effort, but RAF Squadrons based at Aden (Yemen) also contribute to the attempt to neutralise Italian aerodromes.

At 07:50, Flying Officer Branson of No.203 (RAF) Squadron takes off in Bristol Blenheim Mk IVF L9044 on a reconnaissance over Eritrea. On reaching about 18,000 ft, he is intercepted by two or three Fiat CR.42s of 413 Squadriglia. The British aircraft sustains heavy damage, including a leak in the starboard tank and strikes on the cockpit. Despite the damage and the wounding of the observer (Leading Aircraftman Wilson), the pilot brings the aircraft back to base.

No.8 (RAF) Squadron and No.39 (RAF) Squadron bomb Macaca (Eritrea) aerodrome at 16:20 and 19:00 respectively. Three Caproni Ca.133s of 27bis Gruppo are destroyed on the ground. Following these repeated air strikes, 27bis Gruppo is transferred further south to Dessie (Ethiopia). Meanwhile, three Fiat CR.42s of 414 Squadriglia are detached to reinforce the defence of the aerodrome.

At dawn, four Savoia-Marchetti SM.81s of 4bis Gruppo take off from Shinile (Ethiopia) for Aden (Yemen). At about 04:40, four Gloster Gladiator Mk I of No.94 (RAF) Squadron take off to intercept the intruders. While Flying Officer Gordon S. K. Haywood (N2290) and Pilot Officer Stephen P. Bartlett (N2289) are able to engage the Italian bombers, the other two aircraft return to base with technical failures.

The combat quickly ends in disaster for the attackers. The aircraft of Sottotenente Temistocle Paolelli and Mario Laureati is shot down over Ras Imran (Yemen) by Flying Officer Gordon S. K. Haywood. The machine of Colonello Mario Pezzi and Capitano Parmeggiani is damaged by anti-aircraft fire and force-lands at Assab (Eritrea). A third aircraft force-lands in British territory east of Aden (Yemen). The last does likewise on Italian territory; the crew, fearing they have come down in enemy territory, prefer to set it on fire…

The rest for the pilots of No.94 (RAF) Squadron is short-lived. A formation of nine Savoia-Marchetti SM.79s of 44bis Gruppo is reported at 07:30. The bombing run proves difficult for the Italians: the aircraft of Sottotenente Ruffini is hit by anti-aircraft fire from a ship and crashes into the sea. The remaining eight begin their attack but have to make a second pass—the leader’s bomb-bay doors refuse to open. At the same time, two Gloster Gladiator Mk I manage to take off, flown by Pilot Officer Frank M. Stephenson (N2293) and Sergeant Price (N2279), and they intercept the bombers. Flying Officer Gordon S. K. Haywood, however, force-lands at Little Aden (Aden, Yemen), badly damaging N2290.

Pilot Officer Frank M. Stephenson quickly attacks the aircraft of Capitano Serafini, already damaged by anti-aircraft fire. The dorsal gunner reacts at once, striking the fighter’s wing and radiator and forcing him to break off the engagement. The Italian pilot, wounded in the head, nevertheless manages to bring his damaged machine back to Assab (Eritrea). Another aircraft also lands at the same base, damaged. Claims by the gunners of two fighters shot down go some way to offset an otherwise disastrous day for the Regia Aeronautica, which loses five bombers, in addition to those damaged, out of the thirteen aircraft engaged.

Southern Front

At dawn, three Caproni Ca.133s of 9 Squadriglia take off from Luuq (Italian Somaliland) under Capitano Piva to bomb Wajir aerodrome (Kenya). Reaching the target at about 10:20, they observe about a dozen aircraft of No.237 (Rhodesia) Squadron on the ground. They go in to the attack and claim three aircraft destroyed, together with fuel tanks and several buildings.