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MASSIVE BOMBS ON MANOEL ISLAND IN DAYLIGHT RAIDS
A dozen 1000kg (1 ton) ‘Hermann’ High Explosive bombs were dropped in three air raids targeting Malta’s submarine base this afternoon. During three raids the bombs fell the tiny island and the peninsula of Tigne, where one barrack block was damaged and nine military personnel injured.
HMS Upholder
“… poor Manoel Island suffered yet again. Manoel is a little island about a mile and a half in circumference. It lies exactly opposite our home, at a distance of 500 yards. It is the Submarine Base and is called HMS Talbot. There are usually at least four submarines lying there, resting and replenishing between their ‘patrols’ which occupy about a fortnight at sea. The men live ashore in an old building which used to be the Lazaretto or infectious hospital. It is heavily defended with 4 big A-A 3.5 guns as well as smaller stuff. The barracks have been hit several times, the Chapel which has a very attractive facade which faces us has been gutted, but the facade still stands… two Greek officers who are part of the Ship’s Company of a Greek submarine which has been working with us were killed.” (1)
Last night a Malta-based submarine, HMS Upholder, torpedoed and sank an Italian merchant ship SS Tembien 24 miles out of Tripoli – unaware that the vessel was carrying 469 Allied prisoners of war who had been captured at Tobruk. 390 died, plus 68 Italians and 10 Germans.
ESSENTIAL SPITFIRES ARE ON THE WAY
Squadron Leader Stan Turner DFC & Bar (maltagc70: 24 Feb 42) – now leading 249 Squadron in a mission to strengthen fighter operations from Malta – has become increasingly frustrated at the lack of suitable aircraft complete his task. Every day he collects reports of unsuccessful attempts by the Island’s remaining Hurricanes to fight off superior Luftwaffe aircraft.
According to one of his able pilots, Flt Lt Laddie Lucas: “here, on this battered and isolated Island set in a mainly hostile sea, everything had to be improvised. The do-it-yourself, make-do-and-mend, cobble-the-parts-of-three-damaged-aircraft-together-to-make-one-fly concept ruled everywhere…Out of some sixty or seventy aircraft in varying states of damage and disrepair, there was a daily average of a dozen serviceable Hurricane IIs on the Island against Kesselring’s front-line strength of some 400 aircraft in Sicily.”
After two weeks on the island Turner gave Malta’s Air Officer Commanding an ultimatum: “Either sir,’ he said to Lloyd, ‘we get the Spitfires here within days, not weeks, or we’re done. That’s it.”
Today Turner prepares to receive his first delivery of fifteen Spitfires, on their way from Gibraltar via carriers Argus and Eagle, under the protection of convoy Force H. Meanwhile fifty personnel of 249 Squadron are transferring to Luqa aerodrome, from where they will operate the long-awaited Spitfire flight. (2)
AIR RAIDS DAWN 27 FEBRUARY TO DAWN 28 FEBRUARY 1942
Weather Wind south: clear sky at first, high cloud later.
0742-0749 hrs Two ME 109 fighters approach from the north and attack a submarine off the entrance to Grand Harbour. They recede northwards without crossing the coast.
1117-1153 hrs One JU 88 escorted by two ME 109s approaches from the south, crossing Hal Far and the Harbour area at 24000 feet.
1200 hrs Twelve Hurricanes are airborne from Ta Qali: no interceptions.
1200-1254 hrs Fifteen plus aircraft approach from the north, splitting into two formations ten miles north of Grand Harbour. Twelve fighters patrol south of the Island while two JU 88 dive on the Harbour. Bombs fall on Tigne Barracks, damaging one barrack block and causing nine casualties, none fatal. Heavy and Light Ack Ack engage.
1435 hrs Five Hurricanes are scrambled from Ta Qali and intercept JU 88s and fighters, scoring strikes on both: no claims.
1436-1533 hrs Three JU 88s escorted by fighters approach from the north and drop bombs on the Lazaretto area. Hurricanes, Heavy and Light Ack Ack engage. D Company of 3rd Battalion Kings Own Malta Regiment engage one JU 88 with small arms fire.
1520 hrs Light Ack Ack damage one JU 88. Two gun positions of 225 Light Ack Ack Regt engage one JU 88 at 4000 feet. No hits claimed.
1535 hrs Nine Hurricanes are scrambled from Ta Qali: no interceptions. All aircraft return but four land at Hal Far.
1538 hrs Twelve plus ME 109s patrol the Island first, then three JU 88s come in from the north, are engaged by Heavy Ack Ack and drop bombs in the sea to the east.
1640 hrs One Hurricane is airborne; lands at Hal Far.
1715 hrs One Hurricane airborne; lands at Hal Far.
1850 hrs All clear.
2106-2143 hrs One aircraft approaches from the north and drops bombs in the Ta Qali area. Heavy Ack Ack engage.
2312-2336 hrs One aircraft approaches from the north over Gozo and drops bombs in the Salina Bay area. Heavy Ack Ack engage.
0324-0328 hrs Air raid alarm. Identified as friendly aircraft.
0438-0510 hrs Two aircraft approach from the north but do not cross the coast.
0535-0618 hrs Two aircraft approach from the north; the first does not cross the coast. The second approaches Grand Harbour, is engaged by Heavy Ack Ack and drops its bombs in the sea.
Military casualties Lieutenant Richard Rickards, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMS Xmas; Sub-Lieutenant Vyvyan Kelsey, Malta submarine base HMS Talbot; Commander Basil Aslanoglou and Lieutenant John Kostakos, Royal Hellenic Navy, submarine Glaukos.
Civilian casualties Cospicua Ganni Borg, age 51.
Enemy casualties Konrad Schmidt.
OPERATIONS REPORTS: FRIDAY 27 FEBRUARY 1942
AIR HQ Arrivals Eleven Wellingtons and six Beaufighters from Gibraltar (one Beaufighter missing); five Wellingtons from UK (one missing). Departures Eight Wellingtons to LG224; one Sunderland to Aboukir.
LUQA 69 Squadron One Maryland photo-reconnaissance (PR) Naples; one Beaufighter PR Messina harbour and east Sicilian aerodromes, then PR Tripoli Harbour; one Maryland PR Pantelleria and south west Sicily. S/D Flight One Wellington special search. 37 Squadron Seven Wellingtons attacked shipping in Tripoli Harbour plus a warehouse and railway station. Bursts seen in Harbour, Spanish and Taramonli Mole. One ship set on fire, tonnage not known. Half an hour later there was a terrific explosion followed by smaller ones.
TA QALI 249 Squadron personnel move to Luqa: 50 of them to operate from there with Spitfires.
1st BN THE CHESHIRE REGIMENT All Companies went for route march and run.
1ST BN THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY Observation Post at Tal Minsia handed over to 1st Bn Cheshire Regiment. Intelligence Section returned to Bn HQ.
11TH BN THE LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS 1800 hrs Handed over Observation Post at Tal Virtu.
FORTRESS ROYAL ENGINEERS Bomb Disposal UXB Reported 21 February-15 March 128 (average 6 per day).
(1) Diary of Reverend Reginald M. Nicholls courtesy of website: Malta Family History
(2) Quotes courtesy of Canadian Air Aces and Heroes, WWI, WWII and Korea
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