Although some sources state otherwise, Ethiopia had air force contingent when Italy invaded the country in 1935. The Imperial Ethiopian Air Force was founded in 1929 and had some 20 aircraft by 1935. From the wikipedia more or less fascinating stuff is to be found:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Air_Force
Very interesting person in this context is the John Robinson: the wiki article is interesting and here something more:
http://www.thereporterethiopia.com/i...opian-airlines
He appears also in this rare film clips showing the Ethiopian Air Force aircraft back in 1935:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AgQ67kw5gk and
http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65...rs-discuss_war
According to wiki all aircraft of Ethiopian Air Force were without armament but used only for transport and flying ambulance purposes (of the latter - see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Gustaf_von_Rosen)
And some more at this forum:
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...pian+Air+Force
However does anyone know more details about the operations of Ethiopian Air Force in the war against Italy in 1935 - 1936. Although wiki says that the air force was not armed, were there any known combat operations by Ethiopian Air Force during the war? Like small-scale bombings and strafings against Italian ground troops? Surely some reconaissence missions?
To my knowledge there were not any air-to-air combat between Italian and Ethiopian aircraft during the war.