Thursday, July 13, 2006

More air power for Gondar in August 1941 and later

The Sudan command received additional air resources. As usual, in East Africa, there was an interesting collection of aircraft:

August 3, 1941

No.3 Fighter Squadron, SAAF Hurricane, Gladiator, Mohawk
No.l5 Bomber Squadron, SAAF Fairey Battle (2 aircraft)
No.16 Bomber Squadron, SAAF Ju-86
No.41 Army Cooperation Squadron, SAAF Hartbeest

No.15 Squadron ceased operation in two weeks
No.3 Squadron departed to re-equip with only Mohawks in late August
to return at the end of October

Air operations were limited to close support for the army in the field. They were also to eliminate any remaining Italian aircraft that might still be found. They also bombed enemy positions in support of Ethiopian guerilla warfare ("The Patriots"). This is based on the account in Vol.II of the Official History.

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