18 June 1940 On 16 June, a message arrived indicating that if the squadron remained available for operations over France, a series of training sessions should be organized to participate in the defence of British territory within Fighter Command. Pilots must therefore progressively leave on secondment to the No.11 (RAF) Group to follow training on…
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28 September 1940 Northern Front This day sees the first operation conducted by No.237 (Rhodesia) Squadron since its transfer to Sudan, when the Hawker Hardy K4055 (Pilot Officer Peter HS Simmonds, Sergeant Hall) performs two patrols (08h10 and 11h30) above the Atbara River. Indeed, following the decision to entrust SAAF with air operations on the…
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15 June 1940 Nine aircraft take off at 10h45 to reach Hawkinge to provide cover for a sea convoy from 14h45. An alert takes place around 15h00 but the threat turns out to be a formation of Blackburn B-24 Skua [1]. The Hawker Hurricane Mk I P3380, of Flying Officer John R.H. Gayner, however, had…
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27 Septembre 1940 Northern Front Although a first Squadron of No.45 (RAF) detachment has already arrived from Egypt at the end of July to support Vickers Wellesley, its participation in air operations is very reduced. However, the decision to deploy the entire squadron to Sudan is take on early September and effectiv on 25 September.…
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14 June 1940 As usual, eight Hawker Hurricanes take off at 08h15 from Kenley to patrol over Abbeville – Saint-Quentin – Saint-Omer with No. 111 (RAF) Squadron. They land at 09h45 Hawkinge. They leave at 12h30 for a second patrol in the Abbeville – Rouen sector before landing in Kenley at 14h25. In all, the…
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25 September 1940 Northern Front The day before, seven Vickers Wellesley of No. 47 (RAF) Squadron were instructed to join Khartoum airfield at 09h00. The next day five planes take off to bomb Gondar at 03h43. However, the Vickers Wellesley K7728 (Squadron Leader James E. Pelly-Fry) encountered an engine problem. Unable to cross the mountains…
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12 June 1940 Nine pilots take off from Croydon at 15h15 for a patrol in the vicinity of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme – Le Tréport – Le Havre. At the end of the mission, aircrafts landed on Manston (except two aircrafts which landed at Kenley) to refuel at 16h45[1]. The whole formation left from Manston at 19h15 for…
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24 September 1940 Northern Front An attack by Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 was reported on Aden at 12h45 when a fight broke out between an Italian bomber and a Gloster Gladiator of No.94 (RAF) Squadron. This is claimed by the Italians, but Pilot Officer Frank M. Stephenson lands unscathed with his Gloster Gladiator Mk I N2283 [1].…
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11 June 1940 Nine Hawker Hurricanes take off from Kenley at 13h30 for an offensive patrol over the Fécamp – Le Tréport sector with the No.111 (RAF) Squadron [1]. A German formation was encountered shortly after and during the ensuing fight, Flying Officer Anthony Eyre claimed two Bf.109, one of which was probable, about 8…
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23 Septembre 1940 Southern Front According to South African documents, an Italian bomber attacks and drops three bombs on the airfield of Wajir at dawn (01h45). Unfortunately, without further details. At the same time, two or three Caproni Ca.133 (31 bis Gruppo BT ?) are reported over Buna where a local is killed, as well…
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