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Pilot Officer John Bisley of 126 Squadron
in combat with Me 109s from JG-53 during one of the intense
aerial air battles over Valetta in April 1942. Between the
summer of 1940 and the end of 1942, Malta became one of the
most bombed places on earth. The RAF’s desperate fight
to retain control of the diminutive Mediterranean island,
and the defiant courage of the people of Malta, is one of
the epic stories of World War Two.
Crucial to the Allies in their battle
with the Axis forces in North Africa, Malta's naval dockyards
and airfields provided the only base from which ships and
aircraft could attack the convoys supplying Rommel's desert
forces. The German High Command, fully aware of its importance,
made every effort to bomb the island out of existence. By
April 1942 the RAF was down to just six serviceable Spitfires
and Hurricanes, Allied convoys were being decimated unopposed,
and Malta was in danger of starvation. Two and a half years
of relentless bombing had blitzed the dockyards out of operation,
prompting Axis Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal Kesselring
to tell Hitler that Malta was neutralized.
But the Field Marshal failed to take into
account the heroism of a tiny force of RAF fighter pilots,
the British Merchant Navy, the decisive role played by the
British aircraft carriers Eagle and Furious, the American
carrier Wasp, and the iron will of the people of Malta.
In the spring of 1942, when Spitfires
flown from the decks of carriers HMS Eagle and USS Wasp arrived
at the island's battered airstrips, the battle took a new
turn. At last, though still heavily outnumbered, the volunteer
pilots from Britain, Australia, America, Canada, New Zealand
and other Commonwealth countries were able to put up a meaningful
defense. Never again would the Axis raids be met only with
token resistance, and gradually the Spitfires began to dominate
the sky above the beleaguered island. They had arrived in
the nick of time.
Robert Taylor's magnificent tribute
to the gallant pilots who fought against such overwhelming
odds, and the people of Malta, depicts Australian John Bisley
of 126 Squadron dog-fighting with an Me109 from Jg-53 during
one of the intense aerial air battles over Valetta in April
1942. Each print in Robert's important commemorative edition
is signed by pilots who fought and ultimately won the historic
Battle of Malta.
Flight
Lieutenant Ken Evans DFC
Joining the RAF in 1939, Ken Evans
was posted to 600 Squadron, where he flew Blenheims and Beaufighters
on night operations until June 1941. In September he was posted
to 130 Squadron on day-fighters, and in early 1942 was ordered
to Malta. He flew his Spitfire off HMS Eagle on 18 May and
joined 126 Squadron. Seeing much action over the island in
June and July, he was credited with 4 and 2 shared victories,
plus 3 other aircraft probably destroyed, then commissioned
and awarded the DFC. Posted back to England as an instructor,
in September 1943 he transferred to 165 Squadron as a flight
commander.
Flight Lieutenant Ian
Maclennan DFM
Canadian Ian Maclennan joined the
RCAF in October 1940, arriving in England in August 1941.
He joined 610 Squadron in February 1942, then 401 Squadron,
where he destroyed a Fw190. Posted to Malta; he flew his Spitfire
off HMS Eagle on 9 June, and shortly after transferred to
1435 Flight. On Malta he claimed 7 victories and was awarded
the DFM. He was commissioned, becoming a flight commander
in November. In December he returned to England. In February
1944 he joined 443 Squadron as a flight commander. On 7 June
he was hit by ground fire whilst covering the Normandy beaches,
crash-landed, and was taken POW.
Flight Lieutenant Colin
Parkinson DFC
Australian Colin Parkinson joined
the RAAF in 1940, arriving in England to join 19 Squadron
flying Spitfires. In March 1942 he shot down a Do217. In May
he was posted to Malta, flying his Spitfire off HMS Eagle
on 9 June, with 603 Squadron. After scoring several victories
he flew to Gibraltar to lead in further Spitfires, taking
off from HMS Furious to the island on 17 August. Commissioned,
he now flew with 229 Squadron. On 9 October, with 'Winco'
Donaldson and 'Screwball' Beurling, he performed a low-level
beat-up and acrobatics over the presentation of the George
Cross to the people of Malta. He ended his tour of Malta in
November 1942 with the DFC and 10.5 victories, plus probably
2 more.
Flight
Lieutenant Jack Rae DFC*
New Zealander Jack Rae joined the
RNZAF in September 1940, was posted to England and joined
485 Squadron RNZAF. He claimed 2 victories before being posted
to 603 Squadron. With this unit he flew his Spitfire off USS
Wasp to Malta, on 20 April 1942. After being shot down over
the island, he was posted to 249 Squadron. During the following
weeks he saw much action, claiming 4 and one shared by the
end of July. Posted back to the UK, he returned to combat
flying in May 1943, rejoining 485 Squadron. He rapidly scored
further victories, but on 22 August just after downing a Fw190,
his engine failed forcing him to land in France where he was
taken POW. His final tally stood at 12 victories and 8 probables.
Squadron Leader Arthur
Roscoe DFC
American Art Roscoe joined the RAF
in February 1941, through the Clayton Knight Committee that
was recruiting American civilian pilots for the RAF. Arriving
in England he joined 71 'Eagle' Squadron, where he made his
first claims. In June 1942 he volunteered for service on Malta
and flew off the carrier HMS Furious on 11 August to join
229 Squadron. During his final combat on 12 October he was
shot down, wounded, and evacuated from the island in a Liberator,
which in turn crashed on landing at Gibraltar. On recovery,
he was posted to join 165 Squadron, then 242 Squadron, and
in May 1944 was given command of 232 Squadron. He had destroyed
4 enemy aircraft and probably 3 more.
Flight Lieutenant Allan
Scott DFM
Allan Scott joined the RAF in March
1941, joining 124 Squadron in October, where he made his first
claims. Ordered to Malta, he flew his Spitfire off HMS Eagle
to the island on 21 July. Initially posted to 603 Squadron,
he went to 1435 Squadron, seeing much action - including a
victory during Operation Pedestal on 13 August. He remained
with this unit until December 1942. Whilst on Malta he was
credited with at least 5 destroyed and a further 2 probables,
and received the DFM. Returning to the UK he was commissioned
in January 1943. In September he was posted to join 122 Squadron,
and after D-Day to a MU unit. His final tally was 6 victories.
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