By on 18 August, most of the contingent had been evacuated to Aden but and the HQ stayed behind until morning before sailing and the Italians entered Berbera on the evening of 19 August. In the final four days, the RAF flew twelve reconnaissance and sorties, with on Italian transport and troop columns; sorties were flown over Berbera. The British suffered casualties of and the Italians suffered fuel and ammunition expenditure and wear and tear on vehicles was difficult to remedy, which forced the Italians to return to the defensive. Churchill criticised Wavell for abandoning the colony without enough fighting but Wavell called it a textbook withdrawal in the face of superior numbers.