{"product_id":"air-war-in-east-africa-1940-41-the-raf-versus-the-italian-air-force-9781844158164","title":"Air War in East Africa 1940-41: The RAF Versus the Italian Air Force","description":"This little known campaign against the Italian invasion of British Somalia was bravely fought by a small force of elderly RAF and Commonwealth aircraft against almost overwhelming odds. This, against a backdrop of Britain's meager assets being in demand in the much more prominent and important theatres such as Egypt and, of course, at home during the height of the Battle of Britain and the Blitz. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe history starts with the Italian's use of airpower and gas against the spear-armed Abbysinnians in 1936. In August 1940 the Italians attacked and overwhelmed British Somalia and under air cover the British evacuated to Aden. The Allies fought many air battles with the better equipped invaders and flew dangerous reconnaissance missions in preparation for the major offensives in 1941. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOn the Northern Front, the first phases see aggressive air patrols and Allied reinforcements arriving from Egypt. They attacked towards Agordat pushing deep into Eritrea from the Sudan. Meanwhile to the south the South African Air Force and ground forces attacked into Italian Somalia during January and February 1941. In March the allies attacked Keren and the Italians finally surrendered. The final allied air strikes against Asmara and Massawa led to the final collapse of Italian resistance in May 1941. The campaign in Ethiopia saw General Cunningham's force advances 1,725 miles from Kenya in 53 days to reach the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and liberating it on April 6 1941. However, the conflict was still not over - there was continued resistance from 7,000 Italian troops and air operations continued against them until their surrender in September 1943. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe book includes the experiences of the men who flew the outdated aircraft of the RAF and the SAAF in the campaign and includes many quotes and incidents from both Allied and Italian pilots.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Pen and Sword Aviation\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/25\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781844158164\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 192\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.20lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.30h x 6.40w x 1.00d","brand":"Diane Canwell,Jon Sutherland","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52604419408053,"sku":"9781844158164","price":33.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/air-war-in-east-africa-1940-41-the-raf-versus-the-italian-air-force-9781844158164","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}