16 June 1940 Northern Front No.14 (RAF) Squadron uses a lull to trial a new arrangement of the Vickers Wellesley’s defensive armament. The decision follows hard fighting against Italian fighters. A second Lewis gun is fitted through a ventral panel originally intended to carry a camera in the rear fuselage. In addition, Sergeant Edwin T.…
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20 January 1941 Northern Front The border forts at Kassala (Sudan) and Tesseney (Eritrea), previously abandoned by the Italians, are taken early on 19 January, and the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade is ordered to move on Agordat (Eritrea) at 14:20 the following day.[1] At the same time, three Hawker Hardys of No.237 (Rhodesia) Squadron are…
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15 June 1940 Northern Front From Aden (Yemen), the Royal Air Force mounts a coordinated attack on Dire Dawa aerodrome (Ethiopia), involving six Bristol Blenheim Mk I of No.8 (RAF) Squadron and six of No.39 (RAF) Squadron. At 09:15, six Bristol Blenheim Mk I of No.8 (RAF) Squadron take off from Khormaksar (Aden) and claim…
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14 June 1940 Northern Front The day is marked by the first victory of a pilot who will quickly become famous—Tenente Mario Visintini (412 Squadriglia). Flight Lieutenant Anthony T. Irvine and Flying Officer Reginald P. B. H. Plunkett of No.14 (RAF) Squadron decide to trial Vickers Wellesleys as dive-bombers. To that end, they take off…
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13 June 1940 Northern Front In the opening days, Vickers Wellesleys provide the main effort, but RAF Squadrons based at Aden (Yemen) also contribute to the attempt to neutralise Italian aerodromes. At 07:50, Flying Officer Branson of No.203 (RAF) Squadron takes off in Bristol Blenheim Mk IVF L9044 on a reconnaissance over Eritrea. On reaching…
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19 January 1941 Northern Front General William Platt launches his assault from Sudan today. The aim is to seize Eritrea and deny the Italians the ability to threaten Red Sea lines of communication, particularly the port of Massawa (Eritrea). To that end he has two Indian divisions—the 4th and 5th Indian Infantry Divisions—and an armoured…
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12 June 1940 Northern Front The British continue to target the Italian aerodromes with a series of bombing operations between 11:00 and 16:45, mounted by No.47 (RAF) Squadron and No.223 (RAF) Squadron, for no fewer than eighteen sorties. They are met over Gura (Eritrea) and Asmara by anti-aircraft fire and six Fiat CR.42 of 412…
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11 June 1940 Northern Front The battle of the aerodromes begins at 05:30, as eight Vickers Wellesley of No. 47 (RAF) Squadron take off from Erkowit (Sudan) to bomb the Italian aerodrome at Asmara (Eritrea). The attacks are carried out at low altitude, catching the defence completely by surprise. The RAF suffers its first loss…
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18 January 1941 Northern Front Two additional Vickers Wellesley (K7739 and K8527) are deployed to the forward airfield at Blackdown. Five aircraft are tasked to bomb Barentu aerodrome (11:55–15:15), while two others target positions at Umm Hagar (12:25–15:25). These air attacks prepare the offensive towards Agordat, which begins the following day[1]. The same applies to…
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17 January 1941 Northern Front Events accelerate on the Sudanese frontier. After coming under pressure from Gazelle Force and recognising the impossibility of defending the area effectively, Generale Luigi Frusci (Governor of Eritrea) obtains authorization from Amedeo di Savoia-Aosta to begin a progressive withdrawal of his troops from mid-January. The aim is to abandon the…
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