25 August 1940
Northern Front
Six Bristol Blenheim Mk I of No.11 and No.39 (RAF) Squadron (three and three), having joined the advanced airfield on the island of Perim the day before, are sent to the airfield of Dessie to bomb concentrations of vehicles between 06h00 and 09h30. It is, however, not possible to appreciate the result. The adverse reaction is reduced and is limited to a few shots of the anti-aircraft defense [1]. Note that the Bristol Blenheim Mk IVF L9173 (Flight Officer Nelson and Holmes, Leading Aircraftman Ffoulkes) take off for a patrol over the airfield of Perim between 08h30 and 09h30 [2].
The French of the Escadrille d’Aden continue their regular reconnaissance flights. Glenn Marin 167-F No. 102 (Flight Lieutnant Jacques Dodelier, Warrant Officer Yves Trecan, Flight Officer Pierre Fenot de Maismont, Flight Sergeant Robert Cunibil) makes a reconnaissance, between 06h25 and 10h55, over the north of ‘Éthipoie. Among the observed elements, we can note three Caproni Ca.133 at Mieso [3].
Front Sud
At 07h00, the Bristol Battle Mk I No. 909 (Lieutnant B.L. Hutchinson, Air Sergeant S.H. Hipkin, Air Corporal P.C. Sewell) took off from Archer’s Post for a photo reconnaissance of the El Wak airfield at an altitude of about 2 200 meters. Once the mission is completed, the aircraft lands in Nanuki to transmit the photos to No.40 (SAAF) Squadron [4].
No.237 (Rhodesia) Squadron receives some reinforcements with the arrival of six Hawker Hardy [5]. If the unit continues to have a relatively large activity (three to four sorties per day), these are still reconnaissance flights without significant events.
[1] Contrairement à ce qui est parfois écrit, voir en ce sens C. Shores et C. Ricci, Dust Clouds in the Middle East, op. cit., p. 57, le bombardement sur Dessie n’a pas eu lieu le 24, mais bien le 25 août. Si la formation a bien rejoint le terrain avancé de Perim la veille, les documents relatifs aux 11 et 39 (RAF) Squadron confirment clairement que le bombardement est effectué, seulement, le lendemain matin à l’aube. En outre, il ne se limite pas seulement à 3 Blenheim du 11 (RAF) Squadron, mais d’une opération conjointe avec le 39 (RAF) Squadron. “Three of our aircraft and 3 of No.11 Squadron took off and landed at Perim to refuel. At first light on 25 August, 1940, the formation took off to attack (…),« 25 august 1940 » 39 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), Kew – TNA, AIR 27 / 407 et “24 : Three aircraft and crews proceeded to Perim prior to raid on Dessie (…). 25 : The above aircraft bombed (…), three aircraft of No 39 Squadron (…),« 24 and 25 august 1940 » 11 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), Kew – TNA, AIR 27 / 162. .
[2] « 25 august 1940 » 203 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.
[3] « 26 august 1940 » 8 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.
[4] « 26 august 1940 » et « Operation Order no.16 » 11 Bomber Squadron SAAF, War Dirary, op. cit.; « 25 august 1940 » Narrative northern operations SAAF, August 1940, op. cit.
[5] « 26 august 1940 » 237 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.
