5 October 1940
Northern Front
The RAF decided to test another form of operation by sending three Vickers Wellesley of No.47 (RAF) Squadron and two Gloster Gauntlet : K5355 (Flight Lieutenant A.B. Mitchell) and K4295 (Pilot Officer Arthur N.W. Johnstone) of No.430 (RAF) Flight for an armed reconnaissance between Metemma and Gondar, in order to attract the Italian fighters, between 05h20 and 10h05. Three Gloster Gladiator of No.1 (SAAF) Squadron, including Captain Brian J.L. Boyle’s N5852, are placed on hold to intervene if the trap works. No Italian aircraft is reported and the bombers decide to attack Fort Gallabat without being able to observe the result. A Wellesley is reported damaged by the AA.[1]
Southern Front
Due to lack of action, No.2 (SAAF) Squadron schedules some training during the month of October. Thus, on 5 October, three Junkers Ju.86 of No.12 (SAAF) Squadron take off for simulating an airstrike on Mombasa. Three Hawker Fury take off immediately to intercept them, but they are unable to find them. In addition, engines are problematic and nearly 20 to 30 minutes are necessary to reach 6 000 meters, while the coolant often begins to boil at 941 meters above sea level. Unfortunately, during another training, over Wajir, Lieutenant Dirk C. Uys fell into a spin and crashed with Hawker Fury N°206. Severely burned, he is extracted from the debris by a Gold Coast Regiment soldier and evacuated to Nairobi. Cured, he will rejoin his unit on 14 November.[2]
Hawker Fury n°206. Collection : SAAF Museum, via Tinus le Roux
[1] « 5 october 1940 », No. 47 (RAF) Squadron : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541). Kew : TNA, AIR 27 / 463 ; 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. 66 ; SUTHERLAND J., CANWELL D. Air War East Africa 1940 – 1941. The RAF versus the Italian Air Force. Barnsley : Pen & Sword, 2009. p. 68 ; GUSTAVSSON H. « Gloster Gauntlet ». In : Biplane Fighter Aces from the Second World War : http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/gauntlet.htm
[2] SCHOEMAN M. Springbok Fighter Victory – Volume 1 : East Africa (1940 – 1941). Nelspruit : Freeworld Publications, p. 67, 136 et 181 ; 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. 66.
