13 October 1940
Northern Front
A Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 of 44bis Gruppo BT (6a Squadriglia BT) makes an attack on Aden at around 07h55. Flying Officer Gordon S.K. Haywood (L9047) of No.94 (RAF) Squadron takes off on alert and succeeds to seriously damaged the italian bomber. The Bristol Blenheim L8384 (Squadron Leader Alan McD Bowman) of No.39 (RAF) Squadron is then sent on patrol in the Berbera – Zeilah sector in search of the Italian aircraft, but the Sottotenente Italo Gherardini succeeds to return to his base with two crew members killed.[1]
No.45 (RAF) Squadron takes off with three Bristol Blenheims at 16h30 to attack Dekemhare airfield. After the loss of the Squadron Leader on 2 October, the Squadron still knows bad luck. Indeed, one of the aircraft is forced to turn back because of a motor problem, while the other two : L8463 (Flying Officer Gordon C.B. Woodroffe [2], Sergeant Eric B. Ryles [3], Sergeant Albert A. Meadow [4]) and L8502 (Pilot Officer George A. Cockayne [5], Sergeant Trevor A. Ferris [6], Sergeant Robert W. Reader [7]) fall on Fiat CR.42 of 412a Squadriglia CT. The two aircraft crash in the vicinity of Sagheneyti, all crews killed, victim of Capitano Mario Visintini.[8]
[1] « 13 october 1940 », No.94 (RAF) Squadron : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541). Kiew : TNA, AIR 27 / 1198 ; « 13 october 1940 », No.39 (RAF) Squadron : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541). Kiew : TNA, AIR 27 / 407 ; SHORES C., RICCI C. « East Africa ». In : Dust Clouds in the Middle East – The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940 – 1942. London : Grub Street, 2010. p. 66 et 67 ; SUTHERLAND J., CANWELL D. Air War East Africa 1940 – 1941. The RAF versus the Italian Air Force. Barnsley : Pen & Sword, 2009. p. 69 ; GUSTAVSSON H. « Wing Commander Gordon Stanley Keith Haywood ». In : Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War : http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_haywood.htm
[2] Casualty details : Woodroffe, Gordon Cyril Butler : Commonwealth War Graves Commission : http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2272250/WOODROFFE,%20GORDON%20CYRIL%20BUTLER
[3] Casualty details : Ryles, Eric Bromley : Commonwealth War Graves Commission http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2272205/RYLES,%20ERIC%20BROMLEY
[4] Casualty details : Meadows, Albert Alfred : Commonwealth War Graves Commission : http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2272148/MEADOWS,%20ALBERT%20ALFRED
[5] Casualty details : Cockayne, George Angus : Commonwealth War Graves Commission : http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2272046/COCKAYNE,%20GEORGE%20ANGUS
[6] Casualty details : Ferris, Trevos Ascott : Commonwealth War Graves Commission : http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2272077/FERRIS,%20TREVOR%20ASCOTT
[7] Casualty details : Reader, Robert William : Commonwealth War Graves Commission : http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2272193/READER,%20ROBERT%20WILLIAM
[8] GUSTAVSSON H., SLONGO L. Gladiator vs CR.42 Falco (1940 – 1941). Botley : Osprey, 2012. p. 42 ; SHORES C., RICCI C. « East Africa ». In : Dust Clouds in the Middle East – The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940 – 1942. London : Grub Street, 2010. p. 66 et 67 ; SUTHERLAND J., CANWELL D. Air War East Africa 1940 – 1941. The RAF versus the Italian Air Force. Barnsley : Pen & Sword, 2009. p. 69 ; EUSEBI E., LAZZARO S., SLONGO L. Le vittorie aeree di Mario Visintini in Africa Orientale, in Storia Militare, n°246, 2014, p. 61 ; GUSTAVSSON H. « Capitano Mario Visintini ». In : Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War : http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/italy_visintini.htm
