5 September 1940
Northern Front
Following the events of the day before, No.203 (RAF) Squadron is responsible for providing air cover for a maritime convoy accompanied by H.M.A.S. Hobart.
HMAS Hobart – Source : Wikipedia
Around noon, the Blenheim Mk IVF L9042 (Pilot Officer Heslop M.F. Barnitt, Sergeant Albin J. Finch, Leading Aircraftman Blackburn) attack five Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 from the 44bis Gruppo BT. He is, however, quickly hit by the defensive fire of the bombers and forced to break the fight to return after a pursuit of thirty minutes. British ships are attacked three times in the morning, but seem to be unscathed [1]. In the evening, Kamaran’s field is visited by two Italian aircraft [2].
The day before, six Bristol Blenheim Mk I of No.11 and 39 (RAF) Squadron were sent to Perim Island to conduct a raid on Dessie airfield. However, at dawn, the mission is canceled due to a lack of available fuel and the aircraft are diverted to a secondary target: the port of Assab where a 120-mm coastal artillery is destroyed, as well as a stock ammunition [3].
Southern Front
Around 07:00, a IMAM Ro.37bis from the 110a Squadriglia RA is reported over the various advanced airfields along the Kenyan border [4].
[1] « 5 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] « 5 september 1940 » 203 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.
[3] « 5 september 1940 » 11 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.; « 5 september 1940 » 39 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.
[4] « 5 september 1940 » Narrative northern operations SAAF, September 1940, op. cit.
