Destruction of fighters in Malta

Discussion in 'North Africa & the Med' started by Geryberry, Oct 17, 2008.

  1. Geryberry

    Geryberry Junior Member

    I am visiting Malta with a group of colleagues and have been asked to research and then deliver a brief presentation about the 'lessons learnt from the delivery and subsequent destruction of fighters on the ground'. I have sat for an hour on the computer and have so far been unable to find any reference to this event. :confused:

    I would be hugely grateful if somebody could point me in the right direction!

    Paul
     
  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    Welcome Paul,

    The Air war's not my thing but I turned up these snippets that might help with further Googling:

    First from Wiki just to get the ship's names and dates:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malta_Convoys
    April 1942 - Operation Calendar
    The island had ceased to be an effective offensive base, and Axis convoys were mostly untroubled. Several submarines and destroyers were bombed and sunk in harbour, and naval units were ordered to leave for Gibraltar or Alexandria. Not all arrived safely.
    Fifty Spitfires were flown off to Malta from the US carrier Wasp (Operation Calendar), escorted by battlecruiser Renown, cruisers Cairo and Charybdis, and six British and US destroyers. Most of these aircraft were destroyed on the ground by bombing.


    More here:
    http://www.spitfiresite.com/history/spitfire-in-service/1942/1942-defence-of-malta.htm

    & here
    http://www.naval-history.net/xAH-MaltaSupply02.htm

    Hope that helps get you started.

    Cheers,
    Adam.
     
  3. Bodston

    Bodston Little Willy

  4. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

  5. Bodston

    Bodston Little Willy

    Hi Paul, welcome to the forum.



    Sorry Bod, didn't realise you had already posted the link.

    No worries, great minds, and all that..

    Bod
     
  6. Geryberry

    Geryberry Junior Member

    Wow, what a quick response! I will start looking at the links suggested straight away. Many thanks for your help guys.
     
  7. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    In April 1942 Malta's heavy AA guns fired 72,053 rounds, and the light guns 88,176. When the Germans and Italians switched their main attack from the pulverized dock area to the RAF's landing grounds, much of this effort was for their protection; even so, there was a steady toll of RAF aircraft destroyed on the ground. How seriously the Air Staff viewed Malta's situation may be judged from the fact that on 7 March 15 Spitfires were flown in from HMS Eagle, 16 more came in on March 21 and 29 - all of these at a time when the Western Desert Air Force possessed none, and considered itself lucky to be at last obtaining some Kittyhawks. It was the Spitfire that experienced the full rigour of the battle. On 20 April, 47 flew in from the United States carrier Wasp Unfortunately, their arrival was observed, and within twenty minutes they were under attack; By the next morning, only 27 were serviceable, and by evening, 17; on April 23 the Governor of Malta reported that its serviceable fighters were reduced to six.

    'The Right Of The Line' - John Terraine.

    Hope this adds a bit more relevant info for you. Paul

    Regards
    Peter.
     
  8. Geryberry

    Geryberry Junior Member

    It certainly does Peter. The more I read about Malta the more I look forward to my visit. What an amazing history it has.

    Thank you for spending time researching this subject on my behalf.

    Paul
     
  9. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Paul,

    Malta did not earn the George Cross for nothing. The civilian and Military on the island were bombed almost out of existance,

    In Two months, March and April 1942, Malta withstood twice the tonnage of bombs that had fallen on London during the worst 12 months of the Blitz.
    Malta had to endure, in one stretch, 154 successive days of round-the-clock bombing.

    Malta was a strategic island for the Allies due to its position south of Sicily.
    It lay in the way of both the Italian and Germans who were fighting the Allies in North Africa.

    Whilst the Allies held Malta, with aircraft they could harass the convoys and planes.

    The American Carrier Wasp made a second trip with 64 aircraft this time on the 9th May 1942.
    This was the turning point for Malta. Later on the 18th HMS Eagle flew off a further 16 Spitfires to enlarge the strike force on the island.

    Churchill himself congratulated the Captain of the Wasp and said " Who said a Wasp couldn't sting twice?"

    Some references from Courage in the Skies, by J.E. 'Johnnie' Johnson and P.B.'Laddie' Lucas.

    I hope your project works out well for you and that you enjoy your trip.

    Tom
     
  10. kfz

    kfz Very Senior Member

    Jeffory Wellum's First light, is available virtually everywhere and aprt from being a great read has a small bit on Malta.

    Kev
     
  11. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    I find it surprising that in April 1942 the Germans didn't invade Malta. They had the experience of using airborne troops during the battle for Crete and they certainly had air superiority. It was Raeder who in February 1942 first urged that Malta be captured outright (Operation Herkules) bombing was to be a secondary alternative, Kesselring also came to the same conclusion. In May, Rommel got the go ahead to clear Cyrenaica and Malta was put on the back burner.

    The statistics of the air attack on Malta make interesting reading. In April 1942 the Axis air forces flew some 4,900 sorties against the island, the air raid sirens sounded 275 times, an average of once every 2.5 hours throughout the month, 6,278 tons of bombs were dropped. The loss of civilian life during this onslaught was 300, with another 330 seriously injured. In other words it took almost 22.5 tons of bombs to kill a civilian and about ten tons to cause a serious injury.

    Interesting figures for or the argument of bombing Malta into submission, maybe Raeder and Kesselring were right.
     
  12. Bodston

    Bodston Little Willy

  13. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    I find it surprising that in April 1942 the Germans didn't invade Malta. They had the experience of using airborne troops during the battle for Crete and they certainly had air superiority.

    Too expensive perhaps?
    There are a few pages in Hinsley's British Intelligence on this period giving the intelligence point of view. I could post a few pages if you're interested.

    Geoff
     
  14. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    I've always been intrigued by Pz Abt zBV-66, an oddball collection including many Beutepanzer formed up by Germany and intended for the assault on Malta.
    Wonder how far up the beach KV-2s would actually have got...
    Pz Abt zBV-66 - KV2
     
  15. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Adam,

    An interesting site and as you said, intriguing. I cannot imagine the unit functioning too well with captured equipment unless they also had a plentiful supply of spare parts.

    Regards

    Tom
     
  16. David Winterbottom

    David Winterbottom Junior Member

    Might I suggest you read "Fortress malta" by James Holland an excellent account of the siege of the Island during WW2.
    Also whilst visiting make a visit to the Air Museum at the old Ta Qali airfield well worth a visit.
     
  17. Geryberry

    Geryberry Junior Member

    All,

    Many many thanks for helping me on my way with this small project. The links that have been passed on have provided no end of material for me to use and I will start compiling it all later on today. I only hope I can do the subject justice!

    Thanks again

    Paul
     
  18. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    I find it surprising that in April 1942 the Germans didn't invade Malta. They had the experience of using airborne troops during the battle for Crete and they certainly had air superiority. It was Raeder who in February 1942 first urged that Malta be captured outright (Operation Herkules) bombing was to be a secondary alternative, Kesselring also came to the same conclusion. In May, Rommel got the go ahead to clear Cyrenaica and Malta was put on the back burner.

    Not surprising when you consider when Rommel was in Europe he also pushed for the invasion of Malta however when the chips were down for him in North Africa he pushed for everything to go to there.
     
  19. Geryberry

    Geryberry Junior Member

    Well, the trip is over and all of the info that you good folk put on these pages for me was a massive help. Malta really is one of the unsung heroes of WW2 (albeit the recipient of the George Cross), and I would recommend it as a holiday location to anybody with an interest in Military History. Thanks again for all of your help.

    Paul
     
    von Poop likes this.
  20. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Paul,

    Great to hear that you enjoyed your trip and that the forum provided background material for you.
    It is always good to know, in advance, a little history of the place that you are visiting.

    Regards

    Tom
     

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