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RAF Blenheim
Fighter Blenheims to begin operations at Ta Qali
- Bad weather prevents enemy raids and offensive operations from Luqa for a second night
- Funeral of Anti-Aircraft Gunner at Pembroke Military Cemetery
RANDOLPH CHURCHILL TO HELP GOVERNOR IMPROVE TROOP POSTAL SERVICE
From: Governor & C in C Malta To: The War Office, copy C in C Middle East
Any scheme to improve unsatisfactory postal arrangements will be welcomed. Doubtful whether 55 kilogrammes will suffice to take one card per man per week. Estimate 70 kilogrammes required if all personnel take advantage of scheme.
In this connection please note that Mideast Air priorities committee have only guaranteed minimum of 50 kilogrammes per machine to include official mail as well as private. This is quite inadequate.
Suggest that carriage of air letter cards should not be limited to BOAC machines but that advantage should be taken of space in any type of aircraft passing through so that real priority for letter cards can be ensured. Scheme can not be put into operation until supply of letter cards has arrived. Estimated weekly expenditure is twenty five thousand. Please send initial supply by air as soon as possible. As space is limiting factor installation of airgraph machinery here is again strongly advocated. Major Randolph Churchill is bringing further details by hand shortly. This telegram has been agreed by three services.
AIR RAIDS 0001 HRS TO 2359 HRS 10 JANUARY 1942
Weather Thundery showers, heavy at times; driving wind, cold.
0852-0900 hrs Air raid warning; raid does not materialise.
1205-1207 hrs One JU 88 approaches from the south east and recedes without crossing the coast, dropping bombs in the sea. Heavy Ack Ack fires one barrage.
1412-1438 hrs One JU 88 approaches from the south east under cloud cover at 14,500 feet, dives to 7000 feet and drops bombs on Luqa before climbing away to the east. One barrack block near the Officers’ Mess is slightly damaged but there are no casualties. Heavy Ack Ack fires a barrage and Hurricanes are airborne but fail to intercept.
1500-1515 hrs Air raid warning. Raid does not materialise.
1605-1631 hrs Two JU 88 approach the south coast, one from the west and one from the south east. They drop bombs on Hal Far, Tal Papa and near Gudja searchlight station. Heavy Ack Ack fire a barrage and four Hurricanes are airborne but do not engage.
1630-1709 hrs Air raid warning; raid does not materialise.
1700-1713 hrs Air raid warning; raid does not materialise.
2252-2333 hrs One aircraft approaches from the north, dropping bombs in the sea off Leonardo. Heavy Ack Ack fire three immediate barrages.
NIGHT One raid only by a single aircraft which drops bombs in the sea.
OPERATIONS REPORTS 10 JANUARY 1942
AIR HQ Arrivals Five Wellingtons, eight Blenheims from Gib. Departures Six Blenheims, three Wellingtons to 108 MU.
LUQA 69 Squadron One Maryland Tunisian coast patrol, one Maryland SF14 patrol, one Hurricane photo-reconnaissance Sicilian aerodromes. 21 Squadron Three Blenheims despatched to attack merchant vessel off Kuriat. Vessel not located.
TA QALI Six air raid alarms during the day; gunfire; no bombs on camp. Two fighter Blenheims arrived and Pilot Officer and Sergeants 242 Squadron at readiness for the first time. No scrambles.
NORTHERN INFANTRY BRIGADE Units of the Brigade found large working parties for work on dispersal areas for aircraft and improvement of runways at Ta Qali and Luqa. This is to last some weeks. Average number of men 400.
1st BN CHESHIRE REGIMENT 50 Other Ranks (OR) to Luqa aerodrome, to prepare dispersal areas for aircraft and improve runways. Our party of 12 men attached to Luqa for assisting in preparing aircraft returned today and another 12 were sent.
11TH BN LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS Working party two Officers and 100 Other Ranks to Luqa to work on dispersal area edge of Safi Strip.
225TH LIGHT ACK ACK BATTERY, ROYAL ARTILLERY 1400 hrs Gunner Goldsmith A G interred at Pembroke Military Cemetery, St Andrews, Malta.
8TH BN MANCHESTER REGIMENT About 100 men formed a fatigue party for moving clay from Ta Qali aerodrome.
FORTRESS ROYAL ENGINEERS Bomb Disposal UXB Reported 1; not including anti-personnel bombs and incendiaries.
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Malta: War Diary 