Malta mission 9.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

A change of focus.


Following the attack on Luqa airfield in February, the Axis forces stepped up their air raids over Malta during the month of March.



Sunderlands in St Paul's bay were destroyed on the 6th, and again on the 10th.




Sliema was hit on the 11th and on the 15th German bombers again hit the airfield. On the 18th reinforcements arrived in the form of Hurricanes and a Wellington flown in from Libya. following this a lull in the action followed until the 22nd when 10 Ju 88s and several ME109s as escort raided the island shooting down five Hurricanes, with only one pilot surviving. this situation continued until April.
On the 3rd a flight of 12 Hurricanes from HMS Arc Royal arrived as replacements. These were the first of the newer Mk IIAs.
On the 27th April. another 23 Hurricanes arrived. Shortly after this the first half dozen Blenheims took over duties that had been performed by the Wellingtons, which left for Egypt.
During April there were 91 Air raids, but the number of Hurricanes were now able to give a much better account of themselves. Time was running out for the Luftwaffe as they were about to be transferred to the Balkans.
On the 21st of May another shipment of 40 Hurricanes accompanied by five Fulmers from the Ark Royal and Furious arrived on the Island.





This influx of aircraft set up a new situation on the Island.
On the 26th of May, a new Air Officer Commanding Malta was appointed.





Within days Air Vice Marshall Hugh Pugh Lloyd alighted from a Flying boat in Marsaxlokk Bay.
With his new chief also came a promotion for Kyte to Air Commodore with direct responsibility to Lloyd.





In an interview with his new Chief later that day the new policy for the defence of Malta was outlined. Air Chief Marshall Sir Charles Portal had informed Lloyd that his main task was to sink Axis shipping sailing from Europe to Africa. A far more aggressive offensive action against the Italians and Germans was now to be implemented.
On the 9th of June 43 Hurricanes arrived . The last German raid on the Island for some time took place on the following day.




In addition to this Lloyd had at his disposal Two Squadrons of Wellington Bombers, a Squadron of Blenheims, and two Squadrons of aircraft from the Fleet Air Arm. With the MkII Hurricanes which could outperform the Italian Macchi 200 the stage was set for a new style of fighting in the Siege of Malta.

Kyte.

[tikkifriend]

Looking forward to this next mission Rob. Great intro.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Malta mission 9. May 1941. Now it's our turn.




With the arrival of Hugh Pugh Lloyd , and the first of the MkII Hurricanes coinciding with the withdrawal of the Luftwaffe to Greece and the Russian front, Malta went on the offensive against shipping bound for North Africa.
Recon by Marylands, Wellingtons, and Sunderlands became the norm.

The Forces.
This Scenario consists of a recon over the Sicilian port of Comiso by one of the above aircraft escorted by one Hurricane MkII.
The enemy will consist of four Italian Fighters and a ground AA unit of two guns based in the harbour region.

Objective.

Allies.
To obtain photographs of shipping in the harbour, by a slow pass over the port installations in your Maryland/Wellington etc.

Italians.
To prevent the Allies returning to base with the information about the Harbour and its installations.



The Table setup.




Requirements.
One coastal map and extra seascape.

Have fun.
Rob.