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1-8 APRIL 1942: enemy bombers 1427; bombs 1,759,186kg (1731 tons); casualties 234
- Thousands of tons of bombs have ravaged Luqa, Ta Qali, Hal Far and Grand Harbour
- Yesterday enemy bombers devastated Valletta – are civilians the target now?
- Intelligence suggests a Luftwaffe plan to extend bombing across Malta’s villages and towns
- With electricity, gas and water cut off and bread supplies under threat, how can the Island survive?
- Visit maltagc70 for the latest news from Malta, 1942
PENELOPE’S LAST STAND
HMS Penelope holed and patched in Malta
Dockyard Foreman Len Austin remembers the final departure of HMS Penelope, thanks to the combined efforts of the Navy, Army and Dockyard workers, and his highly respected Manager, Mr Joughin. One of the cruisers of Force K, the convoy so effective at sinking enemy merchant ships, Penelope has been in dry dock since 27March, for essential repairs:
“…she was now a sitting duck for the bombers. Bombs rained down but she was not hit, although the dock coping and the workshops adjacent were badly damaged…The two gangways from the dockside one forward and the other aft received direct hits and the ship’s sides in these areas were pierced by hundreds of holes, above and below the waterline. All that could be done was to weld patches over the holes and this proceeded. There were not enough welders available so Mr Joughin asked whether any were available among the troops on the Island who could help and only one was found.”
By this afternoon almost the entire ship has been peppered with holes, all the aft cabins wrecked and the quarterdeck covered with debris from bomb damage to Dockyard structures. It was decided that Penelope should sail as soon as possible. As if aware of her departure, the Luftwaffe bombers returned for another heavy raid on the dockyard:
“arrangements were made for further supports under the ship so that she could help in the barrage. She fired until her gun barrels were virtually worn out. It was obvious that her luck could not last out indefinitely and undocking was scheduled for [this] afternoon. A long raid developed and we were in the Shelters for some hours…the afternoon raid had delayed the repair so the dock flooding time had to be put back…”
With serious doubts whether Penelope could be lifted in time to leave port tonight the Vice Admiral Malta convened a conference and Mr Joughin was asked what could be done:
“’You must land every man who is not required for the working of the ship, all their equipment, all surplus easily removed fittings, all spare gear, as much fresh water as possible, in fact strip the ship of as much weight as could be done without impairing her steaming. We will take the ship to Canteen Jetty. You may embark 200 tons of oil fuel and a full outfit of ammunition and then sail with a good chance of reaching Gibraltar.’
…In minutes all was in hand and the dockside quickly became littered with off loaded weight. A halt was called whilst the ship was towed to the Jetty where the activity was resumed. The “Kingston” a Destroyer which had sustained a near miss hit was then moved into the vacated dock. [Another] heavy raid developed and “Kingston” was hit amidships and sunk. This could have been “Penelope’s” fate. She sailed at dusk, was attacked in the Narrows by Pantelleria, fired all her ammunition but reached Gibraltar safely” (1)
AIR RAIDS DAWN 8 APRIL TO DAWN 9 APRIL 1942
Weather Wind southerly; 10% cloud at 18000 feet.
0825-0922 hrs Four ME 109s attack Ta Qali, dropping four small bombs on the aerodrome.
Four Hurricanes 185 Squadron and four Hurricanes 229 Squadron are scrambled to intercept ten JU 88s north west of Grand Harbour. F/L Lloyd claims one JU 88 and one ME 109 damaged. P/O Wigley damages one JU 88 and Sgt Boyd claimed one JU 88 probably destroyed and one damaged.
1045-1145 hrs Seven JU 88s, part of a larger formation of bombers, carry out a deliberate attack on aerodrome buildings at Luqa. All bombs fall on the motor transport section. Bombs are also dropped on Misrah Blandun area.
1120 hrs Air raid by eight JU 88s with fighter escort of ME 109s attack Hal Far. Ten craters on aerodrome and about 30 incendiaries dropped on aerodrome.
1125 hrs Guns of 225 Light Ack Ack Battery (LAA) engage numerous JU 88s, claiming seven hits on four aircraft.
1324 hrs 26 aircraft come in from the south east and drop bombs in the Dockyard and Paola areas. Two bombs land on Hompesch 3.7″ Battery, near Battalion HQ Camp of 1st Bn Dorsetshire Reg. Another bomb explodes between the Camp and Zabbar.
1335 hrs Three Spitfires 249 Squadron sight six JU 88s with fighter escort. Hurricanes attack, then Spitfires follow in. F/L Heppell destroys one JU 88 and damages another. P/O West G damages one JU 88 and destroys one ME 109; P/O Kelly damages one JU 88.
1345 hrs Three ME 109s are engaged by 5 guns of 225 LAA; two hits claimed on one by two guns.
1400 hrs Four ME 109s drop four bombs on Ta Qali, causing two small craters on the aerodrome. One soldier is seriously wounded and one slightly.
1505 hrs Two Spitfires 249 Squadron attack eight JU 88s. F/O West R probably destroys one; F/L Heppell damages one but is then blown out of his machine, probably by a Bofors shell. He lands safely near Floriana.
1405 hrs Four ME 109 fighters machine-gun Mellieha Camp. 1st Bn Kings Own Malta Regiment engage raiders: no claims.
1510 hrs Enemy aircraft drop bombs in the Dockyard and Paola areas. Bombs also land on the Mall Gardens in Floriana and an unexploded bomb is discovered in St James Ditch. Lintorn Barracks and the Central Civil Hospital are also hit.
1525 hrs ME 109 fighters machine-gun Luqa while four ME 109 fighter-bombers drop bombs on the airfield. Six guns of 225 LAA engage three ME 109s: no claims.
1615 hrs A stick of four 250kg bombs falls 500 yards south of Selmun Palace causing slight damage.
1721 hrs 22 ME 109, 32 JU 88 and 26 JU 87 attack ships in Grand Harbour. Penelope’s gunners fire back until they exhaust their ammunition supplies. The Gunnery Officer is killed and the Captain and several others wounded. A bomb penetrates the forward decks of Kingston passing through and piercing her hull, but does not explode.
1744 hrs 1st Bn Cheshire Regiment receive a message to say work on Pampas ceases at 2000 hrs, with 12 hours’ notice to start again. Men of B Company volunteer to load ammunition onto HMS Penelope prior to her departure from Malta. An air raid is on at the time and the ship is a target.
1815 hrs Three Spitfires 249 Squadron are scrambled and see a Dornier 26 on the water, plus two JU 88s and ME 109s.
1910 hrs P/O West 249 Squadron destroys the Dornier flying boat and one ME 109; P/O Kelly destroys one JU 88.
1938 hrs All clear.
2007-2235 hrs One Beaufighter on patrol to intercept enemy aircraft destroys a JU 88.
2026-2050 hrs One enemy aircraft approaches from the east, crossing Zonkor Point. It is engaged by a Beaufighter with a short burst and crashes in flames at the Safi end of Luqa aerodrome.
2140-2212 hrs One aircraft approaches from the north east but does not cross the coast.
2230-0050; 0135-0255; 0525-0635 hrs Beaufighter on interceptions: no engagement.
2345-0645 hrs A series of raids by single enemy aircraft. Incendiaries are dropped on several locations including Ospizio, Latnia and Sliema sea front.
Military casualties Lieutenant Jack Miller, HMS Penelope; Marine Daniel Soames, Royal Marines, HMS Penelope; Able Seaman Sidney Tancock, Mentioned in Despatches, HMS Penelope.
Private Ivan Harrold, 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry; Private Cecil Peace, 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment; Fusilier Charles Milne, 11th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers; Fusilier Henry Worster, 11th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers; Marjorie Smith, wife of Regimental Sergeant-Major Smith, 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment.
Lance Bombardier John Hovell, 4th HAA Regiment, Royal Artilllery; Gunner Stanley Smith, 7th HAA Regiment, Royal Artillery; Bombardier Geoffrey Worrall, 10th HAA Regiment, Royal Artillery, (6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment);Staff Sergeant Henry Staples, 11th HAA Regiment, Royal Artillery; Gunner Joseph Mallia, 11th AA Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery.
Gunner George Falzon, 1st Coast Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery; Lance Bombardier John Grech, 1st Coast Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery; Gunner Emanuelle Mizzi, 1st Coast Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery.
Civilian casualties Gudja Fred Scicluna, age 45. Marsa Salvu Grima, age 57. Qormi Francis Barbara, age 56. Tarxien Joseph Bartolo, age 52. Valletta Joseph Cachia, age 49.
OPERATIONS REPORTS WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL 1942
ROYAL NAVY During a dive-bombing attack on Grand Harbour Penelope ran out of ammunition and the Captain was wounded. Kingston was damaged and in sinking condition. Penelope sailed for Gibraltar at 2000 hrs. Unsuccessful shipping search off Tunisian Coast by Swordfish.
AIR HQ Arrivals One Lodestar from Gambut; one Maryland from Gibraltar. Departures One Beaufort to 108 MU; one Lodestar to Gambut.
HAL FAR Night 8-9th Swordfish despatched to check up the position of the Kelibe light.
LUQA 1230-1325 hrs One Spitfire 69 Squadron photo-reconnaissance western Sicilian aerodromes. 2340-0555 hrs One Wellington S/D Flight on search for shipping and attack. Sighted one merchant vessel with escorting destroyer and submarine. Bombed merchant vessel but undershot.
TA QALI Orderly Rooms, SWO , Guard Room move from St Edward’s College Mdina to Nos 3 & 11 caves. Messina House taken over for billets.
1st BN THE CHESHIRE REGIMENT Working parties still on Pampas.
2ND BN THE DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT Cpl Worn is injured by machine-gun bullet from enemy aircraft.
1st BN THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT 2345 hrs Pte C Peace died in No 39 General Hospital as a result of wounds received from a bomb at Corradino on 7 April.
1ST BN THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY A and B Companies working on Ta Qali aerodrome. C, D and HQ Companies working on Luqa aerodrome. One Other Rank wounded by enemy action on Ta Qali and died of wounds same day. Three Naval Officers and 56 Naval Ratings attached to the Battalion for rations and accommodation, with a further 25 Naval Ratings with effect from 9th. All from ships damaged in Grand Harbour by enemy air raids.
FORTRESS ROYAL ENGINEERS Incendiary bombs in the Barracks. Quickly extinguished – no damage or casualties. Bomb Disposal UXB Reported 14; dealt with 9 (4 x 50kg; 3 x 250kg; 1 x 500kg; 1 x 1000kg) not including anti-personnel bombs and incendiaries.
(1) Extract from Autobiography of Leonard (Len) Austin, Foreman of Malta Dockyard, August 1939 – March 1943
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Malta: War Diary 