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LONG SEA ROUTE DELAYS ARRIVAL TO SEPTEMBER
12 Heavy Ack Ack guns to be shipped to Malta
Military chiefs in London are assembling Artillery units for despatch to Malta. Twelve heavy and ten light Ack Ack guns plus ammunition and personnel are being prepared for immediate embarkation. However, they will sail the long sea route and cannot be expected to reach the Island until September. A further eight heavy and ten light Ack Ack guns destined for Malta will be transported via a warship but there is no embarkation date as yet.
Urgently needed officers and specialist technical service staff will travel by fast transport ship through the more dangerous waters of the western Mediterranean.
DOCKYARD NEEDS UNDERGROUND WORKSHOPS
The Vice Admiral Malta has indicated the need for underground workshops to enable the Dockyard to function fully during air raids. Valuable time is currently being lost as workers take refuge in shelters following the alert. Underground workshops would require considerable investment but would potentially restore productivity to pre-war levels.
AIR RAIDS DAWN 27 JULY TO DAWN 28 JULY 1940
Weather Fine and warm.
0510-0520 hrs Air raid alert. No air raid follows.
1110-1135 hrs Air raid alert for one bomber escorted by ten fighters, which fly over the Island – probably on reconnaissance to assess the results of night raids. Malta fighters are scrambled but do not intercept. The raiders are engaged by Ack Ack gunners who hit one fighter which ditches in the sea 15 miles of the south east coast. No bombs are dropped.
1640 hrs Air raid alert for enemy fighters which follow two of the Island’s Sunderland flying boats on patrol. The Sunderlands engage the raiders and three enemy fighters are destroyed. One Sunderland is damaged and lands at Marsaxlokk. Three of the crew are injured.
OPERATIONS REPORTS SATURDAY 27 JULY 1940
KALAFRANA Sunderland aircraft of 228 and 230 Squadrons operating 12 hour naval patrols over wide area covering Greek coast, south Italian coast and Sicily under direct instructions from Middle East and HQ Mediterranean. Three recruits medically examined for the RAF.
8th Bn MANCHESTER REGIMENT The Provost Marshall gave a very helpful lecture to the troops with a view to helping them keep out of trouble during their stay in Malta.
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