When the Spitfires saved Malta

Another glorious if bloody period of WWII has been recorded in book form not only to mark the heroics of ace pilots but also to remember the resilience of the Maltese people as they withstood the enemy onslaught.

The book Spitfires Over Malta (1942) has been completed and published to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII and the inauguration of the Malta Aviation Museum Foundation's new aircraft hangar at the Aviation Museum in Ta' Qali. The authors are Brian Cull and Frederick Galea.

Mr Cull is on his 20th visit to the island in 30 years. In 1975 he made his first contact with members of the War Museum Association of which Mr Galea is a member. Their friendship has led to his publishing six extremely well-researched books on the warfare that took place in the skies over Malta between 1940 and 1943.

Spitfires Over Malta follows in the same racy style and pace as Hurricanes Over Malta (1940-1942) and is its companion volume covering the period March to December 1942. It recounts the Royal Air Force's gallant stand to save the island from invasion and submission by the Axis powers.

About 400 Spitfires reached the beleaguered island between March and October 1942. They were flown mostly from the decks of aircraft carriers that sailed against great odds into the Mediterranean which was heavily monitored by enemy forces.

Established on airfields in Luqa, Ta' Qali and Hal Far, the Spitfires went out on daily sorties to repel the might of the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica based in Sicily.

Few of the Spitfires survived more than a couple of weeks, at times only days. Almost 100 Spitfire pilots lost their lives, young men hailing from Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Rhodesia, together with volunteers from the US serving with the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

In April 1942, Malta was pounded with more bombs than Britain at the height of the Battle of Britain. Over 1,000 Maltese civilians lost their lives in 1942.

Malta held out and the German and the Italian air force realised that the battle was lost. The Spitfire pilots were credited with at least 600 aerial victories.

Spitfires Over Malta, published by Grub Street of the UK and represented here by Miller Distributors, is available at leading bookshops.

Mr Cull and Mr Galea will be signing copies of the book at Sapienza's Bookshop in Republic Street in Valletta on Monday from 5 p.m. Anyone who has other titles by Mr Cull is invited to bring them along to be signed.

Mr Cull will be at the Aviation Museum in Ta' Qali until next Wednesday and may be contacted there.