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- 12 raids in 16½ hours
- Aerodromes main target
- Gozo passenger boat machine-gunned
- Fighters prowl Malta’s coasts
‘Buck’ McNair (Canadian Aces)(1)
MALTA ADOPTS BATTLE OF BRITAIN TACTICS
“The Malta pilots quickly adapted Battle of Britain tactics to their situation under the tutelage of SL Turner. What Spitfires that could get airborne would try to attack the escorts first while the Hurricanes would come in just behind them and try to get at the bombers. This didn’t often work out, due to the overabundance of 109s in the air. However, on March 18 Buck damaged a Bf-109, and the next day he shot one down in flames.” (1)
AIR RAIDS DAWN 18 MARCH TO DAWN 19 MARCH 1942
Weather Wind south west; no cloud.
0727-0845 hrs One JU 88 escorted by sixteen ME 109s drops bombs in the sea west of Anchor Bay, on land near Torri L’Abjad and near Miziep Pumping Station. Four ME 109s peel off and machine-gun Marfa Beach, firing on the Gozo ferry boat disembarking at Marfa Jetty and injuring three passengers. ME 109s go on to carry out low-flying patrols around the coast.
0855-1216 hrs Six ME 109s circle the Island, three patrol off the south east coast and three ME 109s patrol off Delimara. Four ME 109s patrol to the south of the Island and two in the north. Malta’s fighters engage.
1230-1308 hrs Four Spitfires 249 Squadron are airborne to escort a Maryland south. While still trying to locate it they see two of the patrolling ME 109s, five miles south of Delimara. They attack: W/Cdr Turner damages one; P/O McNair damages one.
1326-1400 hrs ME 109s patrol off the coast and to the north of the Island.
1430 hrs Five Hurricanes 185 Squadron are scrambled from Hal Far to intercept an incoming formation of one JU 88 and twelve ME 109s.
1447 hrs The Hurricanes attack and together damage a JU 88. P/O Lester is shot up by a ME 109 and wounded.
1645 hrs Four Spitfires 249 Squadron, four Hurricanes 126 Squadron and seven 185 Squadron are airborne to intercept 24 JU 88 bombers in a series of formations, each with fighter escort.
1650 hrs The four Spitfires are jumped by four ME 109s. One ME shoots down P/O Fox who bales out over the sea. F/Lt McQueen attacks the ME and sees that go down into the sea. P/O Sergeant attacks another ME, observing large pieces falling off. P/O Lee attacks a JU 88, seeing strikes on the fuselage and black smoke from the port engine.
The Hurricanes close to within sight of the attacks. F/Sgt Fletcher and F/Lt Stone see hits on the same JU 88 attacked by P/O Lee.
1711 hrs Air raid on Hal Far. Five JU 88s drop fifteen high explosive (HE) bombs, including three 1000kg. Eight fall on the airfield.
1715 hrs 225 Light Ack Ack Battery (LAA) engage three JU 88s: one hit claimed.
1717 hrs Three JU 88s drop 14 HE bombs including three 1000kg on Safi strip, and on Hal Far, damaging one Albacore, demolishing a hangar and leaving craters on the aerodrome.
1725 hrs One gun of 225 LAA engages a JU 88: no claim.
1725 hrs One 1000kg bomb falls on Bubaqra village, damaging headquarters of A Company, 3rd Bn Kings Own Malta Regt and injuring the storeman. An unexploded 500kg bomb is discovered 50 yards away. B Company reports one fighter in the sea near Filfla.
1730 hrs One gun of 225 LAA engages one JU 88: no claim.
1735 hrs Guns of 225 LAA engage one JU 88: two guns claim one hit each. One of the gun positions is hit: billets are damaged and rendered unserviceable. Personnel have to be accommodated temporarily in tents.
1735 hrs Three JU 88s drop bombs on Misrah Blandun area.
1755 hrs Four bombs explode between the headquarters of B and D Companies, 3 Bn Kings Own Malta Regt (KOMR). One 1000kg bomb is reported near RAF posts at Ghar Lapsi. An unexploded bomb is reported at position 424193.
1755 hrs Fighter aircraft return to Ta Qali but Sgt Mulloy and P/O Lester are reported missing.
1810 hrs Three Spitfires 249 Squadron airborne to escort the High Speed Launch in a search for P/O Lester.
1830 hrs Seven JU 88s raid Ta Qali, dropping 45 high explosive bombs. 24 hit target, setting fire to and destroying two Hurricanes, one bowser and one tractor. Bombs fall on the runway and the aerodrome is unserviceable for a short time. One Hurricane and one Spitfire are slightly damaged. LAC Parker is admitted to No 90 General Hospital with severe shock.
Several bombs fall around the camp of 8th Bn Kings Own Royal Regt and on Qrendi strip. One bomb explodes close to the HQ building. The guard commander is affected by bomb blast and taken to hospital suffering from concussion.
1845 hrs Four JU 88s drop HE bombs on Luqa airfield.
1900 hrs P/O Sergeant 249 Squadron attacks a ME 109 with several bursts: the aircraft dives steeply towards the sea, emitting white smoke.
1909 hrs Raiders passed.
1955 hrs An observer of 3rd Bn KOMR at Ghar Lapsi sights a bomber in the sea West of Filfla, one fighter south east of Filfla and another fighter south of Filfla.
P/O Lester is rescued by the High Speed Launch.
2235-2300 hrs One enemy aircraft crosses the coast near St George’s and drops bombs on Birkirkara and Tal Qroqq. Heavy Ack Ack engage.
2355-0127 hrs Eight single aircraft approach from the north. Four cross the coast and bomb searchlight positions at Tal Balal and Mellieha, and in the sea. Heavy Ack Ack engage; one night fighter is airborne.
Military casualties Flight Sergeant Arthur Delehaunt, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (VR), 69 Squadron; Sergeant William Anderson, Royal Australian Air Force; Pilot Officer Harold Fox, Royal Air Force VR, 249 Squadron; Sergeant Robert Grimley, Royal Australian Air Force; Sergeant George Mulloy, Royal Air Force VR, 126 Squadron; Sergeant Graham Parker, Royal Australian Air Force.
Civilian casualties St Paul’s Bay Carmela Muscat, age 72; Francis Muscat, age 14.
Enemy casualties Leutnant Kurt Lauinger, III/JG 53, Pilot of Messerschmitt Bf 109, shot down, picked up from the sea and taken prisoner.
OPERATIONS REPORTS WEDNESDAY 18 MARCH 1942
ROYAL NAVY Two Swordfish and two Albacores on shipping search without result. One Swordfish crashed on landing; crew unhurt.
AIR HQ Arrivals Three Blenheims from Gibraltar.
HAL FAR AM Two Swordfish and four Albacores of 828 and 830 Squadron on shipping search. Two merchant vessels and two destroyers sighted 180 degrees Lampedusa 45 miles, course north, 15 knots. One hit scored.
LUQA 0825-1256 hrs One Maryland 69 Squadron special search for shipping: relocation of convoy and traffic moving east from Tripoli. 1434 hrs One Maryland 69 Squadron despatched on reconnaissance of Marittimo-Kerkennah. Sgt Parker fails to return. One Maryland on reconnaissance Marittimo-Kerkennah failed to return: believed shot down by enemy fighters off Filfla. Crew: Sgts Parker, Delehaunt, Grimley and Anderson airborne 1434 hrs.
SOUTHERN INFANTRY BRIGADE One man A Company Kings Own Malta Regiment slightly injured by [1000kg bomb] in Bubaqra village; one Other Rank slightly injured by bomb blast.
1st BN THE CHESHIRE REGIMENT Working party two Officers and 100 Other Ranks at Luqa. 1400 hrs 30 Other Ranks final parachute practice on Marsa Range.
FORTRESS ROYAL ENGINEERS Bomb Disposal UXB Reported 16-20 March 35 (average 7 per day).
(1) Profile of Robert Wendell ‘Buck’ McNair from Canadian Aces (Miles Constable)
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Malta: War Diary 