This book is dedicated completely to covering the markings and colors of Spitfire Mk Vs on Malta in 1942. USS Wasp (CV-7) photographed in spring 1942 with Vought SB2U Vindicator and Grumman F4F Wildcat aircraft on her flight deck. Malta was the fortress of the Knight Templar, and its proximity to Europe and Africa was important for trade. During the approach to Malta, the Germans and Italians launched over 100 aircraft to intercept the convoy as soon as it was within range. For the next three days the RAF Squadrons kept up a nearly continuous fighter screen over Valletta against intense bombing attacks. On the other hand, a flying day often meant two or three missions in a row. The HMS Welshman, a Royal Navy cargo ship, also traveled from Gibraltar to Malta. As each aircraft took into the air, the pilot had to lower the flaps fully, dropping the wedges to the sea, and then close the flaps again. The Bf 109F was the fastest of the three, and was also superior in climb. 1940 1942 1943 1944 1945 airshows aviation art history miscellaneous people Reference Spitfire Mk. We have the best fighter aircraft in the world, and our Spitfire pilots will again show their comrades on the ground that they are the best fighter pilots in the world.” This provided a vital cover for the Hurricanes which had to struggle to get to 15,000 feet before the enemy approach. By the middle of April the fighter defence was seriously weakened and the scrambles had to be restricted to six aircraft, sometimes even fewer. In June the Italian and German forces ranged against the island counted some 520 Luftwaffe and 300 Reggia Aeronautica aircraft, including around 140 Messerschmitt Bf 109F of JG 53 and II/JG 3 and 80 Macchi C.202’s of the 4th and 51st Stormo. During the next Operation Bovery on 9 May, USS Wasp and the repaired HMS Eagle launched as many as 64 Spitfires Mk. What Malta needed was air power, especially Spitfire fighter planes from the RAF. The leaky tank issue in the Spitfire got rectified. Despite their efforts and the significant number of Axis aircraft shot down, the cargo ship Clan Campbell was sunk twenty miles from harbour, oil tanker Breconshire was damaged and anchored outside, steamer Pampas was hit by two bombs that failed to explode, while only Talabot reached Grand Harbour intact. Unfortunately, the elevators on Argus were too small for fixed-wing Spitfires, leaving HMS Eagle as the only feasible option. Despite the setback of Operation Calendar, it proved that with the aid of the large American carrier new fighters could be delivered to Malta in quantity. Barely visible is the 90-gallon slipper tank under the aircraft’s belly. One more incident occurred in the air as P/O Smith found his auxiliary fuel tank unserviceable after take-off. Again, the launch was preceded by 11 F4Fs taking off for combat air patrol. Keeping radio silence, they would fly to a point twenty or thirty miles south of the island and gain height until ordered by ground control to intervene at whichever airfield in need of defence. Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball? The HMS Eagle could do one more trip on March 29 delivering just 7 aircraft. A simple solution was developed whereupon the flaps on ferried aircraft were locked half-way down by inserting wooden wedges between the flap and the wing. By transferring Spitfires from the carriers to Malta, the British established a credible air garrison on the island against all odds. VC. A cargo ship carrying the Spitfires if attacked by Luftwaffe cannot defend itself as warships cannot escort the cargo ship in the Mediterranean. Firstly, the initial plan envisaged the use of HMS Eagle and HMS Argus for the delivery, code-named Operation Spotter. 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