20 May 1940 The No.615 Squadron leaves, finally, at 04h30, for the airfield of Norrent-Fontes with thirteen Hawker Hurricane Mk I (as well as one Miles Magister). The day starts very early when at 08h00, a double patrol is organized : the first above Lille (six aircraft), and the second in defense of the airfield…
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17 September 1940 Northern Front The French attached to No.8 (RAF) Squadron continue their flights with the Glenn Martin 167-F No. 102 (Flight Lieutenant Jacques Dodelier, Warrant Officer Yves Trecan, Sergeant Joseph Portalis, Flight Sergeant Yves Michel) and makes a reconnaissance of the sector Banda Kasim – Banda Alula (north east of Somalia) [1]. At…
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19 May 1940 At 04h00, six Hawker Hurricane Mk I took off from Moorsele for a patrol of the Cambrai -Le Cateau-Cambresis area. At 17h30, six aircraft patrol over Arras, while five patrol the road between Arras and Cambrai. A fight takes place, around 19h40, with about fifteen Bf 109 of 9./JG 26, in the…
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16 September 1940 Northern Front After a day of rest, Vickers Wellesley take off for further night attacks. Three aircrafts of No.47 (RAF) Squadron are sent to Asmara between 15h30 and 20h20. They are followed by three more of No.223 (RAF) Squadron and No.14 (RAF) Squadron on Gura, between 19h45 and 02h00. However, the weather…
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15 September 1940 Northern Front No.94 (RAF) Squadron knows a bit of action when Squadron Leader William T.F. Wightman (L9047) takes off at 12h25 for the usual patrol over the port of Aden. At 13j25, he receives order to go to Steamer Point where an unidentified aircraft is reported. The latter turns to be a…
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14 September 1940 Northern Front The Vickers Wellesley continue to attack Gura Airfield between 19h00 and 00h00, with five aircrafts of No. 14 (RAF) Squadron (only two on the target), three from No.47 (RAF) Squadron (one on Massawa) and five of No. 223 (RAF) Squadron (one is forced to cancel due to technical problems and…
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13 September 1940 Northern Front The Vickers Wellesley are active in Sudan and two aircrafts from each of Squadrons are sent to attack Gura in the evening, between 17h30 and 19h30 [1]. We can, however, question the actual results of these bombardments carried by one aircraft, at medium altitude and at night in unsuitable aircraft,…
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12 September 1940 Northern Front Three Bristol Blenheim Mk I’s of No. 11 (RAF) Squadron are sent to attack the jetties at Assab harbor. Despite strong air defense, crews reports indicate that all bombs have fallen on the target[1]. Southern Front The day is more active in the south because after a few days’ break…
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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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