Malta – World War 2. First visit to maltagc70? CLICK HERE
Get daily updates direct to your computer – sign up to follow maltagc70 (see R)
1-14 APRIL 1942: Enemy bombers 2391; Bombs 2,779,800 kg (2736 tons); Casualties 340
Bristol Beaufort
ENEMY FIGHTERS ATTACK AIRCRAFT AS THEY LAND
Early this afternoon a Special Beaufort aircraft landing at Malta after operations in the Middle East was attacked on the ground by Messerschmitt fighters. The pilot was killed and the crew injured.
Three more Beaufort aircraft of 39 Squadron heading in to Malta from ops. in the Middle East were shot down in the sea south of the Island, as well as two others lost during the same operation. Other Beauforts later landed successfully under the protection of Spitfires and Hurricanes. Six airmen are reported killed.
A Maryland aircraft returning from shadowing operations with ME 203 Squadron has been reported missing. The aircraft left Barrani at 0700 hrs this morning and should have landed in Malta at 1315 hrs. However, nothing has since been heard of the Maryland, either from the Middle East or Malta. The last message from the aircraft was received at 0945 hrs GMT.
AIR RAIDS DAWN 14 APRIL TO DAWN 15 APRIL 1942
Weather Wind cold, north easterly; 50% medium cloud.
0620-1020 hrs ME 109 fighters patrol round the coast of the Island.
1020 hrs 25 JU 87s bomb Grand Harbour area while four ME 109s drop bombs at both ends of Hal Far aerodrome and machine-gunning the airfield.
1032 hrs 16 JU 88s follow this plot in and drop bombs on Hal Far and the dispersal area, causing craters on the aerodrome. One Hurricane is severely damaged and one slightly damaged.One ME 109 is shot down in the sea off Delimara; one Messerschmitt crashes 800 yards from a defence post of B Company, 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt. The pilot is killed and identified from papers as Karl Henry Krahl of Breslau.
1035 hrs Guns of 225 Light Ack Ack Battery (LAA) engage four JU 88s and one ME 109: two guns claim total four hits on two JU 88s and one ME 109.
1045 hrs Twelve JU 88s attack Ta Qali: six of them drop 24 bombs on Ta Qali runway.
1050 hrs Three Spitfires 249 Squadron are escorting a Maryland in to Malta when they are alerted to an approaching enemy formation. They attack a number of ME 109s: P/O Kelly damages one before he is shot down into the sea: he is later rescued.
1140 hrs Guns of 225 LAA Bty engage two ME 109s: no claims.
1150-1425 hrs ME 109s keep up a continuous patrol off the coast while a delivery flight of Beauforts head towards Malta. Spitfires and Hurricanes are airborne, to act as escort for the incoming aircraft.
1300 hrs Two Spitfires 249 Squadron are scrambled to escort another Maryland returning from patrol. They sight Messerschmitt fighters: F/L McQueen part-destroys one and damages another; P/O Sergeant part-destroys one. Three Hurricanes 185 Squadron engage three ME 109s: F/Sgt Fletcher and Sgt Lee each damage one.
1355 hrs A Beaufort returning from operations in theMiddle East has just landed at Luqa when it is strafed by ME 109s, killing the pilot and wounding four members of the crew.
1428 hrs 24 JU 87s dive on Grand Harbour, dropping bombs in the Dockyard, Zabbar and St Paul’s Bastion areas, while five JU 88s drop bombs on Luqa. Four ME 109s drop bombs on Hal Far near the Windsock area.
1435 hrs Guns of 225 LAA Bty engage two JU 88s: three hits claimed.
1440 hrs Bombs are dropped on Misrah Blandun.
1545 hrs More Beauforts from theMiddle East come in to land, under the protection of two Spitfires and two Hurricanes.
ME 109s continue to patrol round the coast of the Island.
1800 hrs Three returning Beauforts are shot down into the sea. One is sighted by 3rd Bn Kings Own Malta Regiment. L/Cpl Sciberras of B Company and another man put to sea in a boat and brings in two survivors.
1805 hrs 24 JU 87s attack the Grand Harbour area.
1830 hrs Eight JU 88s dive-bomb Luqa airfield, cratering the runway and damaging equipment. The camp warning system is put out of use. Bombs are dropped near Bir id Deheb and Ghaxaq encampments of 2nd Bn Devonshire Regt.
1830 hrs Four JU 88s drop fifteen bombs on Ta Qali, including at least one delayed-action bomb. Craters adjacent to and at the end of the runway make the aerodrome unserviceable for night flying.
1838 hrs Bombs are dropped on the Mellieha Camp of the Kings Own Malta Regiment, including several delayed-action.
1840 hrs Guns of 225 LAA Bty engage numerous JU 88s: 7 hits claimed.
1952 hrs All clear.
2042-2130 hrs Air raid warning for one aircraft which does not cross the coast. Minutes later another alert is sounded for an aircraft approaching from the west: identified as friendly.
Night to 0540 hrs Continuous night raids by single German and Italian aircraft. Bombs are widespread and indiscriminate. Weather deteriorating.
2052-2135 hrs One Beaufighter is airborne on patrol to intercept enemy aircraft: no engagement.
2250 hrs Bombs are dropped betweenSelmunPalace and Torri Ghain Hadid. One does not explode.
0124 hrs Two single aircraft come in singly from the north and drop bombs in the sea to the north of the Island. Meanwhile several Malta-based aircraft come in to land.
0219 hrs; 0337 hrs; 0445 hrs Bombs are dropped on theSafi strip.
0220 hrs; 0250hrs; 0354 hrs Bombs, including some delayed-action, are dropped on Mellieha Camp of Kings Own Malta Regiment and in the sea nearby.
Military casualties Skipper William Orchard, Royal Navy Reserve, HMS St.Angelo; Flight Lieutenant Robert Beveridge, Pilot, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (VR), 39 Squadron; Flight-Sergeant Stanley Howroyd, Pilot, Royal Air Force VR, 22 Squadron; Sergeant Thomas Keegan, Royal Air Force VR, 47 Squadron; Warrant Officer Joseph Lee, Observer, Royal Air Force, 22 Squadron; Sergeant Alexander Miller, Royal Air Force VR, 39 Squadron; Flying Officer Robert Seddon, Royal Air Force VR, 39 Squadron; Bombardier Eric Blunt, 7th Heavy Ack Ack Regiment, Royal Artillery.
Enemy casualties Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Krahl, Pilot of a Messerschmitt Bf 109 shot down by gunfire at Hal Far whilst making a low level attack on the airfield.
OPERATIONS REPORTS TUESDAY 14 APRIL 1942
AIR HQ Arrivals Three Beauforts, four Beaufighters landed Malta from Ops ME. Departures One Hudson toGibraltar, one Hudson to Gambut, one Spitfire PRU, oneWellington, twoHudsons to 108 MU.
HAL FAR Night 14/15th One Swordfish and two Albacores despatched to attack enemy convoy: nothing sighted.
LUQA Four JU 88s drop bombs on Luqa aerodrome. 0959-1320 hrs One Maryland 69 Squadron on search for enemy shipping. Sighted convoy and chased by numbers of enemy aircraft: no combat. 2045-0555 hrs OneWellington on Special Search. Reports enemy convoy.
1st BN THE CHESHIRE REGIMENT Bombs near Four Platoon at Rinella: wireless mast hit.
1ST BN THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY Work on aerodromes continued.
FORTRESS ROYAL ENGINEERS Bomb Disposal UXB Reported 11; dealt with 6 (1 x 1000kg; 2 x 250kg, 3 x 50kg).
2ND BN THE ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS 31 sailors attached to the Battalion.
8TH BN THE KINGS OWN ROYAL REGIMENT Lt T Miller attached from 8th Bn Manchester Regt was injured in the shoulder by shrapnel from an Ack Ack shell.
11TH BN THE LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS Hal Far working party continued: bombed and machine-gun. 1100 hrs Our own Ack Ack light machine-guns with others engage and shoot down a ME 109. GOC congratulates the Battalion.
All written content © maltagc70 unless otherwise attributed. For conditions of use contact bdmalta@btinternet.com.
Malta: War Diary 