9 September 1940
Northern Front
After a stop, the night before, at Ras Ara, four Bristol Blenheim of No. 11 and No.39 (RAF) Squadron (one [1] and three) took off at 05h55 to bomb the airfield of Dessie in Ethiopia. They are welcomed on the spot by two Fiat CR.32 of the 411a Squadriglia CT, and the british aircrafts need to quickly drop bombs to escape, which is evidence of a relatively successful intervention of Italian fighters[2]. Unsurprisingly, the results of the bombing seem to have been negligible [3].
Two other Bristol Blenheims from No.11 (RAF) Squadron take off at the same time from Ras Ara towards Assab to attack the port. Again, without significant results [4].
As in previous days, Port Sudan is visited by four Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 from 44bis Gruppo BT around 11h00. Two Gloster Gladiators of K Flight having taken off, on alert, manage to intercept the Italian bombers. However, after a few bursts the leader’s machine guns jammed and the British pilots were forced to break the fight. A Wellesley is reported to be slightly damaged on the ground following the bombing [5].
Southern Front
After several attacks on Mogadishu, No.11 (SAAF) Squadron is sent to Shashamane airfield in central Ethiopia, after the usual stop at Archer’s Post. Six Fairey Battle, divided into two waves, are sent. An airplane, equipped for aerial photography, is added to the first wave [6]. If the first attack (07h25) is a success with five heavily damaged aircraft claimed on ground, the second (around 12h00) is not enjoying the effect of surprise by the air defense and the Fairey Battle No. 916 is shot in flames. His crew (Captain R. A. Blackwell, Air Sergeant F.A.S. van Zyl) managed, however, to evacuate the aircraft and was captured. The Italians claim, in addition, four damaged enemy aircraft (two Fairey Battle are reported damaged), while on the ground a Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 is destroyed as well as two Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 and a Caproni Ca.133 are damaged [7].
[1] If Shores and Ricci indicate the presence of two Blenheims from 11 (RAF) Squadron, the British documents clearly mention only one aircraft. C. Shores et C. Ricci, Dust Clouds in the Middle East, op. cit., p. 5911; En ce sens : « one aircraft accompanied by three of No. 39 Squadron left Ras Ara first light to raid Dessie », « 9 september 1940 » 11 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.; et « on the following morning, only one aircraft of No. 11 Squadron would start », « 9 september 1940 » 39 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.
[2] « As they were approching the ammuniton dum, they were inefectively attacked by two CR.32. This gave the Blenheim very little time to find the target », « 9 september 1940 » 39 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.
[3] « 9 september 1940 » 11 Bomber Squadron SAAF, War Dirary, op. cit.; « 9 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. 59.
[4] « 9 september 1940 et Appendix Raid No.97 » 11 Bomber Squadron SAAF, War Dirary, op. cit.
[5] « 9 september 1940 » 14 Squadron RAF : Operations Record Book (Form 540 and Form 541), op. cit.
[6] If Shores and Ricci mention the presence of five Fairey Battle during the second wave, all of the South African documents clearly indicate that the 11 (SAAF) Squadron sends four aircraft for the first wave (No. 907, 919, 913 and 914), one in reserve (No. 912), three for the second wave (Nos. 910, 915 and 916), while one is responsible for transporting the necessary technical personnel to Archer’s Post (No. 911). For the second wave, No. 916 suffering from a motor problem is replaced during the stop at Archer’s Post by the number 912. C. Shores et C. Ricci, Dust Clouds in the Middle East, op. cit., p. 59.
[7] « 9 september 1940, Operation Instruction No.53 et Operation Order No.21 » 11 Bomber Squadron SAAF, War Dirary, op. cit.; « 9 september 1940 et Operation Summary No.92 » Narrative northern operations SAAF, September 1940, op. cit.; W. Brent, 85 tears of South African Air Force (1920 – 2005), op. cit., p. 123 et 126; J.-A. Brown, A gathering of eagles, the campaigns of the South African Air Force in Italian East Afica (1940 – 1941), op. cit., p. 64; S. McLean, Squadron of the South African Air Force and their aircraft (1920 – 2005), op. cit., p. 122; C. Shores et C. Ricci, Dust Clouds in the Middle East, op. cit., p. 59; J. Sutherland et D. Canwell, Air War East Africa, the RAF versus the Italian Air Force, op. cit., p. 66.
