11 September 1940 Northern Front A large-scale operation was organized in Sudan in the evening, bringing together aircraft of No.14, 45, 47 and 223 (RAF) Squadron to target the airfield of Gura. However, the weather conditions are very difficult when the aircraft arrive over the Eritrean mountains. Unable to spot the target, some bombers dropped…
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10 Septembre 1940 Northern Front In the night, British troops launch an attack on Fort Kassala. No. 14 (RAF) Squadron sends, at 11h15, three Vickers Wellesley in support. They are intercepted shortly after by two Fiat CR.42. The Vickers Wellesley K7763 (James A. Ferguson Pilot Officer, James Lynch Pilot Officer [1], Sergeant Thomas Conway [2])…
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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,…
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18 May 1940 Unfortunately, there is no concrete detail on the events of this day. At most, the ORB indicates the preparation of an escort mission, for the benefit of Bristol Blenheim at 04h00, which is canceled; while Brian Cull [1] mentions a brief confrontation with Heinkel He.111 of KG 1 without further details. [1]…
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17 May 1940 In the morning, several sections of No.615 Squadron take off from Moorsele for various patrols, details of which are known for at least two of them. For example, the three pilots of No.229 (RAF) Squadron (Pilot Officer John E.M. Collins, Malcolm Ravenhill and Victor B.S. Verity) take off at 05h30. According to…
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16 May 1940 After the renforcement from No.229 (RAF) Squadron, a second backup group arrives with a detachment of three pilots from No.242 (RAF) Squadron, B Flight. They are Pilot Officer Robert D. Grassick [1], William L. McKnight [2] and Percival S. Turner [3]. They already have a little experience since they joined No. 607…
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8 September 1940 Northern Front On this day, the Escadrille d’Aden suffered a tragedy when the Glenn Marin 167-F n° 82 (Lieutnant flight Roger Ritoux-Lachaud [1]; Flying Officer Pierre Fenaux of Maismont; Flight Sergeant Raymond Rolland [2] and Emile Lobato de Faria [3]) is sent on a reconnaissance over the Djibouti – Addis Ababa railway.…
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15 May 1940 Unlike previous days, No.615 Squadron activity is quite intense and relatively well detailed. It is also the occasion of several claims, but also new losses. The day begins with several patrols from the airfield of Le Touquet, without further clarification, according to the ORB. Later in the morning, six Hawker Hurricane Mk…
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14 May 1940 Several reinforcements arrive in No.615 (County of Surrey) Squadron when the RAF decides to detach several Flights to reinforce the units in France. These are pilots from B Flight No.229 (RAF) Squadron : Pilot Officer John E.M. Collins [1], Malcolm Ravenhill [2] and Victor B.S. Verity [3], as well as Pilot Officer…
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7 September 1940 Northern Front The No.430 (RAF) Flight is active during this day as a Vickers Vincent (a second is damaged at takeoff) and two Gloster Gauntlet take off from Azzoza, at 11h20, to attack the airfield of Metemma. After the bombardment at 13h05, a Caproni Ca.133 was sighted by Flight Lieutenant A.B. Mitchell…
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