23 – 24 October 1940 Southern Front This day is relatively insignificant in terms of activity. Two Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 make a surprise visit on the Kenyan airfield of Malindi. Nevertheless, these very small attacks probably have only a psychological objective in order to keep the opponent under pressure. Yet 24 October is a major turning…
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22 October 1940 Northern Front The day is essentially marked by the organization of a massive attack, combined between the three Squadrons based at Aden, on airfields of Alamata and Dessie (northern Ethiopia). The distance between Aden and Alamata requires the organization of a refueling on the island of Perim in the Red Sea. Three…
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21 October 1940 Northern Front Three Wellesleys of No.223 (RAF) Squadron took off between 19h20 and 20h20 to bomb the airfields of Asmara and Gura. Once again, the results are difficult to evaluate. Unfortunately, when landing at Summit, around one o’clock in the morning, the Vickers Wellesley L7774 suddenly stalled at an altitude of about…
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20 October 1940 Northern Front As previous days, the Italians continue to attack British ships in the Red Sea (convoy BN 7) by sending Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 and Savoia-Marchetti SM.81. Around noon, a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 of 44bis Gruppo BT was engaged by the Bristol Blenheim Mk IVF T2112 (Flying Officer Heslop M.F. Barnitt [1] and Sergeant…
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19 October 1940 Northern Front The French continue their reconnaissance flights aboard Glenn-Martin 167F n°102 (Flight Lieutenant Jacques Dodelier, Warrant Officer Yves Trecan, Flight Sergeant Ronan Michel and Robert Cunibil) with the sector Dire Dawa – Shinile – Zeilah between 08h15 and 12h00. One Caproni Ca.133 is seen on the airfield of Dire Dawa, while…
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Air Operations under the Southern African Sun. The Namibian Campaign (1914 – 1915). In French and English (available at Amazon: 5 euros). Buy on Amazon Please note that I am not English speaking (I am French). I tried to translate this website to make it understandable to a non-French speaking audience. I present, in advance,…
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Combat au-dessus de la Corne de l’Afrique (Juin – Décembre 1940) Download Article published in Aéro Journal n°41 (June – July 2014) : http://www.aero-journal.com/aero-journal41.php
18 October 1940 Northern Front After the events of 16 October, No.1 (SAAF) Squadron is instructed to attack Barentu Airfield in response. Captain Brian J.L. Boyle (N5830), Lieutenant Andrew Duncan and Robin Pare take off for this purpose. As the Italians, the South African pilots appear on the target at ground level and are able…
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16 October 1940 Northern Front Due to the British presence in Gedaref, the Italians decide to launch an attack on the airfield. For this purpose, General Pietro Piacentini (responsible for the North Sector) joins the Barentu airfield to coordinate the bombing. He took off at 05h25 aboard a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 followed by eight Fiat CR.42…
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15 October 1940 Northern Front The days of 15 and 16 October are marked by the events related to the deployment on Gedaref. On 12 October 12, eight Vickers Wellesley, No.47 (RAF) Squadron, under the command of Squadron Leader James E. Pelly-Fry, took off at 09h20 to reach the forward aerodrome of Gedaref. They were…
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