Date:	Wednesday 12 June 1940
Time:	day
Type:	Vickers Wellesley Mk I
Owner/operator:	223 Sqn RAF
Registration:	K7747
MSN:	AO-K
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	RAF Summit ALG, near Port Sudan -   Sudan
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Summit ALG, near Port Sudan
Destination airport:	RAF Summit ALG, near Port Sudan

Narrative:
Vickers Wellesley Mk.I K7747 (AO-K) 223 Squadron RAF: Written off (damaged beyond repair) when involved in combat operations on 12 June 1940. Of the two crew, the pilot was uninjured, but the Air Gunner was wounded. According to the official Air Ministry file into the incident (File AIR 81/906): "Wellesley K7747 damaged in air operations over Gura Aerodrome, Eritrea, 12 June 1940. Corporal R Stevenson: injured"

Took off from RAF Summit ALG, near Port Sudan to attack Gura Aerodrome in Eritrea. Whilst over the target, shot at by a Fiat CR.42 of 412 Squadriliga of the Reggia Aeronuatica (Italian Air Force) piloted by Mario Visintini and severely damaged.

Visintini claimed Wellesley K7747 as the first of his 16 air victories during the conflict in Eastern Africa. K7747 managed to make it back to RAF Summit, but crashed on landing. The pilot was uninjured, but the air gunner, Corporal R Stevenson, was seriously injured.

1. Royal Air Force Aircraft K1000-K9999 (James J .Halley, Air Britain, 1976 p 64)
2. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/906: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14502608
3. https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/79233-vickers-wellesley-mk2/&tab=comments#comment-873668
4. Gladiator vs CR.42 Falco: 1940–41 By Håkan Gustavsson, Ludovico Slongo
5. http://www.aviastar.org/gallery/256.html
6. https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/airfixtributeforum/a-matchbox-wellesley-t40655-s15.html
7. http://www.epibreren.com/ww2/raf/223_squadron.html#1606
8. https://peoplepill.com/people/mario-visintini/

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
28-Sep-2019 21:01	Dr. John Smith	Added
28-Sep-2019 21:05	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Source]
29-Sep-2019 08:28	stehlik49	Updated [Operator]