20 September 1940
Northern Front
After being announced for several weeks, the first three Blenheim Mk IVs were delivered to No.14 (RAF) Squadron on 14 September 1940 in Port Sudan.
These three Bristol Blenheim Mk IVs (R3899, T2057 and T2061) of No.14 (RAF) Squadron come into action during a bombardment on Massawa between 11h35 and 15h35. The objective is to search a advanced airfield used by Italian bombers to attack maritime convoys in the Red Sea.
The mission unfolds pretty badly since it is, at first, impossible to fix the bombs at T2057 (Lieutenant Flight Norman G. Birks, Sergeant J.P. Gillespie and James L.B. Cheyne). He decides, nevertheless, to take off with a camera to observe the result of the attack. Arrived above the target, his Blenheim is hit by the anti-aircraft defense at the left engine and the pilot is forced to a crashed-landing north of the city. The entire crew is captured by the Italians. Sergeant James L.B. Cheyne is probably seriously injured in the action as he dies five days later due to his injuries. [1]
Sergeant James Linklater Birnie Cheyne. Source : Cheyne WebSite – http://sites.rootsweb.com/~cheyne/p18926.htm
The Vickers Wellesley continue to be used, however, since two of them are sent to Gura overnight.[2]
A combined attack by No.1 (SAAF) Squadron and No.430 (RAF) Flight is reported at Tessenei airfield. A Caproni Ca.133 is mentioned as destroyed on the ground[3]. Note that the event is reported to have taken place the next day in several South African sources.[4]
For their part, the Italians are not inactive and the convoy B.N.5 is attacked by several Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 and a vessel is reported damaged in the British documents. The No.203 (RAF) Squadron receives, then, the order to make an aerial cover of ships from 13h45.[5]
[1] Casualty details : Cheyne, James Linklater Birnie, Commonwealth War Graves Commission : http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2272043/CHEYNE,%20JAMES%20LINKLATER%20BIRNIE
[2] NAPIER M. Winged Crusaders : The Exploits of 14 Squadron RFC & RAF 1915 – 1945. Barnsley : Pen & Sword, 2013 ; 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. 308 ; No. 14 (RAF) Squadron : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541). Kiew : TNA, AIR 27 / 192.
[3] SCHOEMAN M. Springbok Fighter Victory – Volume 1 : East Africa (1940 – 1941). Nelspruit : Freeworld Publications, [s.d.]. p. 41 ; 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. 61 ; SUTHERLAND J., CANWELL D. Air War East Africa 1940 – 1941. The RAF versus the Italian Air Force. Barnsley : Pen & Sword, 2009. p.67 ; GUSTAVSSON H. « Flight Lieutenant A. B. Mitchell ». In : Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War : http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/commonwealth_mitchell.htm ; GUSTAVSSON H. « Gloster Gauntlet ». In : Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War : http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/gauntlet.htm
[4] MCLEAN S. Squadrons of the South African Air Force and their aircraft (1920 – 2005). Cape Town : [s.n.], 2005. p.4 ; SCHOEMAN M. Springbok Fighter Victory – Volume 1 : East Africa (1940 – 1941). Nelspruit : Freeworld Publications, [s.d.], p. 135.
[5] 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. 61 ; SUTHERLAND J., CANWELL D. Air War East Africa 1940 – 1941. The RAF versus the Italian Air Force. Barnsley : Pen & Sword, 2009. p.67 ; No. 203 (RAF) Squadron : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541). Kiew : TNA, AIR 27 / 1198.
