Northern Front

In support of the ground offensive, the RAF continues to strike Italian logistics. Four Bristol Blenheim Mk I of No.8 (RAF) Squadron—L6655 (Flight Lieutenant Fry; Sergeants McRobbie and Eric V. Message), L8505 (Flight Lieutenant Richard C. Young; Pilot Officer Palmer and Sergeant Hannan), L8518 (Pilot Officer John A. Barke; Sergeants Miller and Oultram), and L8504 (Wing Commander Dudley S. Radford; Pilot Officer Martin and Sergeant Muir)—take off at 09:00 to bomb the port of Assab (Eritrea). The crews report accurate bombing, but Italian anti-aircraft fire is intense, with L6655 and L8518 returning damaged. The first three land at 11:30, while L8504 returns at 12:20 after carrying out a photographic reconnaissance of the port and town of Assab (Eritrea).[1]

For its part, No.47 (RAF) Squadron dispatches three Vickers Wellesleys—K7713 (Flight Lieutenant J. Stewart; Sergeants Hatton and West), K7715 (Flying Officer Richard R. Helsby; Sergeants Harold L. Oddy and Arthur H. Paine), and K7759 (Sergeant Aldus; Joseph F. S. Lawley and Jarvis)—between 08:10 and 12:10 to attack the railway station at Keren (Eritrea). The bombing is unsuccessful, all bombs being reported as falling south of the objective.[2]

No.237 (Rhodesia) Squadron moves to the forward landing ground at Umtali (Sudan), difficult to locate on maps. The toponym—homonymous with the town of ‘Umtali’ in Southern Rhodesia (today Mutare, Zimbabwe)—is likely an internal squadron designation; it corresponds to a site near the Butana Bridge on the Atbara River, in the vicinity of Kassala (Sudan).[3]

However, the principal objective for the day is Gura (Eritrea) aerodrome.

First, No.14 (RAF) Squadron sends three Bristol Blenheim Mk IVs—L8874 (Flight Lieutenant John K. Buchanan; Sergeants Andrew E. Chaplin and Kenneth C. A. Ball), T1822 (Flying Officer Richard A. Green; Sergeants Morton and Chapman), and T1856 (Sergeant Roy G. Gilmore; Kenneth J. Wilkie and E. J. Smith)—between 08:15 and 13:20. Although the crews confirm very large numbers of Italian aircraft at Gura (Eritrea), the bombing is unsuccessful.[4]

They are followed by No.1 (SAAF) Squadron, which mounts a strong attack on Gura (Eritrea) aerodrome with six Hawker Hurricane Mk I (Major Lawrence A. Wilmot; Captain Kenneth W. Driver and Captain Gerald J. Le Mesurier; Lieutenants John L. Hewitson, Thomas A. W. Irvine, and Leonard le Clues Theron) and six Gloster Gladiators (Captain Brian J. L. Boyle; Lieutenant Johan J. Coetzer; Lieutenants Andrew Duncan, Robin Pare, Denis L. Taylor, and Servaas de Kock Viljoen). Owing to the distance, the pilots use the forward landing ground at Sabderat (Sudan) to refuel at 10:30. Over the target, two Hurricanes (Major Lawrence A. Wilmot and Lieutenant Leonard le Clues Theron) remain as high cover while the other nine go in to the attack. The strike appears successful, the South Africans claiming nine Savoia-Marchetti SM.79s, seven Savoia-Marchetti SM.81s, and three Caproni Ca.133s destroyed or damaged. With ammunition largely expended, the pilots turn back on the appearance of four Fiat CR.42s of 412 Squadriglia (including Tenente Cacciavillani) at about 12:35.[5]

On the return, Captain Kenneth W. Driver also claims two Savoia-Marchetti SM.81s damaged at Adi Ugri (Eritrea), while Lieutenant John L. Hewitson attacks a convoy of about a dozen vehicles.

The Italians acknowledge that four Savoia-Marchetti SM.81s and three Savoia-Marchetti SM.79s are indeed damaged.[6]

Southern Front

Following the loss of Avro Anson no. 1127 (ex-N9976) of No.60 (SAAF) Squadron the previous day, Hartbees of No.41 (SAAF) Squadron are tasked with the search. The day proves eventful for the pilots. The Hartbees of Second Lieutenant V. R. Graham is hit in the engine by ground fire near Afmadow (Italian Somaliland). With his goggles and windscreen smeared with oil, the pilot lands to try to get his bearings. Failing that, he heads west and reaches the village of Muddo Gashi (Kenya), where his aircraft is recovered the next day. At the same time, Second Lieutenant W. D. Gerrand is forced to make a precautionary landing at Liboi (Kenya) following an engine problem; the fault is quickly resolved and he is able to return to Garissa (Kenya) in the evening.[7]