21 September 1940
Northern Front
During a nighttime bombardment of Gura and Asmara, the Vickers Wellesley K8530 (Flight Sergeant Bathe; Sergeant Naismith) was intercepted, around 11h36, northeast of Massawa. A short confrontation ensued for four minutes between the bomber and two aircraft identified by the crew as Fiat CR.42[1].
Southern Front
Following SAAF’s recent bombardments, Regia Aeronautica decided to react by deploying three Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 from 44bis Gruppo BT to Yabelo. The aircraft attacks Archers Post at 7h30 where four Gloster Gladiators from No.2 (SAAF) Squadron (Flight Lieutenant Robert S. Blake, Lieutnant Adrian M. Colenbrander, Pieter de Jager Fritz [2] and Basil Guest) take off to intercept them. During the fight, the N5851 (Lieutnant Adrian M. Colenbrander) is slightly damaged but the bombing is a failure.[3]
A No.2 Gloster Gladiator (SAAF) Squadron being prepared for an outing, on one of the advanced airfield of the Kenyan border. Collection : SAAF Museum, via Tinus le Roux.
[1] This event was reported on the night of September 20 by Christopher Shores : 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.However, the night of 21 September appears clearly on reading the ORB of No.223 (RAF) Squadron, as well as in the mission report written by Flight Sergeant Bathe : No.223 (RAF) Squadron : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541). Kiew : TNA, AIR 27 / 1374.
[2] Note that the presence of this pilot, during the interception, does not appear clearly on reading the various South African documents. The Gladiator coul, therefore be only three.
[3] No.2 (SAAF) Squadron : War Diary. Kew : TNA, AIR/54/1 ; September – Narrative Norther Operations SAAF. Kew : TNA, AIR/54/8 ; DUNNING C. Courage Alone, The Italian Air Force 1940 – 1943. Aldershot : Hikoki Publications, 1998. p. 70 ; 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.
