In December 1941, Drake was posted to No.128 Squadron RAF at Hastings, Sierra Leone, in West Africa and destroyed a Vichy French Glenn Martin 167F bomber near Freetown.
In December 1941, Drake was posted to West Africa to form and command No.128 Squadron RAF at Hastings, Sierra Leone, flying Mark II Hurricanes. Soon afterwards he shot down a Vichy French Glenn Martin 167F bomber, near Freetown.