4 September 1940
Northern Front
After several false alarms the day before, several Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 of 44bis Gruppo BT, based in Dire Dawa, attack Aden with some efficiency since the ship SS Velko is damaged, the advanced terrain of Kamaran strafed by eight aircraft, as well as various damage in the harbor. Two Gladiator Glosters: N5757 (Pilot Officer Bartlett) and N5787 (Sergeant Buchanan) of No.94 (RAF) Squadron take off to intercept at least three bombers around noon. If the first can not intervene, Sergeant Buchanan manages to catch an Italian aircraft over Khor Umera. He makes two passes without being able to appreciate the result before being outdistanced. A victory is claimed by the Italian crews, but the two fighters land at their bases. On the other hand, a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 is slightly damaged [1].
No.8 (RAF) Squadron sends three Bristol Blenheim Mk I to bomb the Aiscia station (near the border with Djibouti) [2]. However, contrary to what is asserted by Shores and Ricci [3], the attack of Kassala envisaged by No.14 (RAF) Squadron is canceled [4].
Southern Front
No.11 (SAAF) Squadron decides to vary its objectives after a long series on Mogadishu and four Fairey Battle Mk I take off from Archer’s Post to bomb the airfield of Baidoa (southern Somali) around 13h30. Four Caproni Ca.133 are claimed on the ground by the crews (two destroyed and two heavily damaged). Then crews continue on Bardera where the radio station is attacked [5]. At the same time, four other aircraft carry out an armed reconnaissance of the Afmadu – Jelib – Gobwen sector, but without result [6].
[1] « 4 september 1940 » 94 (RAF) Squadron : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), Kew – TNA, AIR 27 / 755; « 4 september 1940 » 203 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.; C. Shores et C. Ricci, Dust Clouds in the Middle East, op. cit., p. 58; J. Sutherland et D. Canwell, Air War East Africa, the RAF versus the Italian Air Force, op. cit., p. 65.
[2] « 4 september 1940 » 8 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.
[3] C. Shores et C. Ricci, Dust Clouds in the Middle East, op. cit., p. 58.
[4] « 4 september 1940 : Three aircraft stood by to bomb Kassala, but the operation was not carried out. » 14 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.
[5] « 4 september 1940 +Operation Instruction No 51 + Operation Order No 18 » 11 Bomber Squadron SAAF, War Dirary, op. cit.; « 4 september 1940 + Operation Order » Narrative northern operations SAAF, September 1940, op. cit.; C. Shores et C. Ricci, Dust Clouds in the Middle East, op. cit., p. 58.
[6] « 4 september 1940 » Narrative northern operations SAAF, September 1940, op. cit.
