Northern Front

The day is marked by the first victory of a pilot who will quickly become famous—Tenente Mario Visintini (412 Squadriglia). Flight Lieutenant Anthony T. Irvine and Flying Officer Reginald P. B. H. Plunkett of No.14 (RAF) Squadron decide to trial Vickers Wellesleys as dive-bombers. To that end, they take off without authorisation at 15:30 for Massawa (Eritrea) in K7723 and K7743. The attack is carried out without difficulty, but Italian fighters intervene and shoot down Vickers Wellesley K7743 of Flying Officer Reginald P. B. H. Plunkett. Flight Lieutenant Anthony T. Irvine gets back, but is immediately ordered to the rear base at Amman by Squadron Leader Anthony D. Selway.

Three Savoia-Marchetti SM.79s of 44bis Gruppo launch an attack on the port of Berbera (British Somaliland) around midday. One is hit by anti-aircraft fire, and one aircraft is claimed destroyed on the ground.

Moreover, the Italians implement several changes. 29bis Gruppo leaves Assab (Eritrea) for Mille (Ethiopia), while 413 Squadriglia detaches three fighters to Addis-Abeba (Ethiopia) to support colonial police operations. These aircraft are joined by eight Savoia-Marchetti SM.79s.

Southern Front

Three Hartbees of No.11 (SAAF) Squadron take off from Nairobi (Kenya) at about 10:00 to attack the radio station, buildings, and fuel depots at Bardera (Italian Somaliland). The route is long, requiring refuelling at Wajir (Kenya) outbound and at Habaswein (Kenya) on the return. Despite these arrangements, the return proves difficult: Second Lieutenant Brian L. Hutchinson (no. 856) lands at Wajir with tanks dry, while Captain Hans H. Borckenhagen (no. 803) and Second Lieutenant Piet J. Robbertse (no. 804) force-land near the frontier and cannot be recovered for seven days. In all, it takes ten days to recover all aircraft and pilots.