Author: ajcrou

14 December 1940

14 Décember 1940 Northern Front Three No.223 Vickers Wellesley (RAF) Squadron take off at 13h45 to bomb Gura Airfield. Indeed, as more troops land in Sudanese ports, British officials are worried about the transfer of a number of Italian bombers to Eritrean airfields. Arrived individually above the target, around 17h00, the British planes are engaged…
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20 July 1940

20 July 1940 The day begins calmly with a series of training sessions over the Leysdown-on-Sea firing range. Around 17:30, Pilot Officer Keith T. takes off to shoot down some drifting barrage balloons. Shortly afterwards, however, No.615 Squadron was ordered to intercept a German formation. Convoy CW.7 (twenty-nine merchant ships and three escort ships) left…
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13 December 1940

13 December 1940 Northern Front Due to the gradual arrival of the 4th Indian Infantry Division in Sudanese ports, there are insufficient Blenheim Mk IVFs to provide protection for ships. The B Flight of No.14 (RAF) Squadron was therefore tasked during 13 and 14 December to conduct a series of patrols throughout the day in…
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12 December 1940

12 December 1940 Northern Front As on 13 October, 412 Squadriglia attack the advanced airfield of Goz Regeb where the B Flight of No.237 (Rhodesia) Squadron is based. Five Fiat CR.42 take off with a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 (Tenente Colonnello Liberati). They arrived above the target at around 06h10. The Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 dropped its bombs, while…
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11 December 1940

11 December 1940 Northern Front Three Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV of No.14 (RAF) Squadron take off at 14:00 to bomb a bridge inside the city of Asmara. The target, surrounded by residential areas, requires special instructions as the crews are asked to clearly identify it before any bombing. Squadron Leader Deryck C. Stapleton (T2167) is forced…
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10 December 1940

10 December 1940 An original day takes place for the No.3 (SAAF) Squadron. The Royal Navy decides to plan a naval raid against the Italian port of Kismaayo. The H.M.S. Southampton must therefore approach around 13:00 to open fire on the various port facilities and ships. For this purpose, the Supermarine Walrus seaplane, transported by…
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7 – 9 December 1940

7 – 9 December 1940 Northern Front The French attached to No.8 (RAF) Squadron continued their flights aboard the Glenn Martin 167 F n° 102 (Flight Lieutenant Jacques Dodelier, Warrant Officer Yves Trécan, Flight Sergeant Ronan Michel) with a reconnaissance of the sector: Massawa – Edd – Thio – Assab, between 09:40 and 13:55. The…
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6 December 1940

6 December1940 Northern Front Five Vickers Wellesley [1] of No. 47 (RAF) Squadron took off at 08:15 from Sennar to bomb Bure (Ethiopia). The K7713 is forced to return early due to an engine failure. The other four aircraft continue to the target when they are intercepted at 10:40 by a Fiat CR.42. The K8521 (Pilot…
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5 December 1940

19 July 1940

19 July 1940 The A Flight returns to Hawkinge at dawn (04:00) with two patrols over Beachy Head between 04:25 and 07:15. These patrols may be related to the presence of a Dornier Do.17P of 4(F)/121 attacked by six Hawker Hurricanes of No.145 and No.257 (RAF) Squadron (06:03 – 07:35) between Redhill and Shoreham-by-Sea, before…
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