325:
81:
67:
33:
146:
AHQ Malta played a key defensive role during the war when Malta was under siege by Axis forces between 11 June 1940 to 20 November 1942. In 1943 it then became a major sub-command centre for the Allies under the
Mediterranean Air Command (MAC) when the Allies began their attack on Sicily, Italy.
295:
was being waged, Allied forces were credited with the destruction of 59 percent of the German tonnage and 45 percent of the
Italian tonnage shipped to Rommel's Axis forces in North Africa. This attrition was a significant aspect of Rommel's defeat and was in large part due to AHQ Malta, and the
237:
promptly destroyed 30 of them on the same day, the defensive and offensive capabilities of AHQ Malta grew as a result of these and other aircraft reaching the island in the summer of 1942. On 1 July 1942, AHQ Malta had approximately 200 aircraft, about half of which were
Spitfires.
879:, both at Luqa flying photo-reconnaissance Canberras. The organisation and administration of the remaining units was passed to RAF Luqa, where an Air Commodore with the title of Air Commander Malta was installed, while overall control passed to
650:
and AOC AHQ Malta. His appointment also carried the 38 Squadron which was disbanded early in 1967. In 1968 the station at Takali also closed. AHQ Malta was disbanded on 30 June 1968 and the Air Vice
Marshal flew home the following day.
1234:
1172:
The Air Battle of Malta. The
Official Account of the R.A.F. in Malta, June 1940 to November 1942; Prepared for the Air Ministry by the Ministry of Information, London, UK, His Majesty's Stationery Office,
1169:
Army Air Forces
Historical Office Headquarters, Participation of the Ninth & Twelfth Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, Army Air Forces Historical Study No. 37, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, 1945.
1046:
The Air Battle of Malta. The
Official Account of the R.A.F. in Malta, June 1940 to November 1942; Prepared for the Air Ministry by the Ministry of Information, London, UK, His Majesty's Stationery Office,
898:
203 Squadron was disbanded on 31 December 1977 and 13 Squadron flew home to Wyton in
October 1978. The post of Air Commander Malta ceased to exist when the British withdrew from Malta on 31 March 1979.
1244:
1109:
609:(flying Spitfire IXs) arrived in 1946. The No.73 Squadron initially flew from Hal Far but was moved to Takali thus allowing Hal Far to be handed over to be used by the
1239:
172:
RAF Mediterranean had been based in Malta under one designation or another throughout the interwar period, spending some time known as 'Mediterranean Group'.
1249:
175:
Despite concerns that the island, far from
Britain and close to Italy, could not be defended, the British decided in July 1939 to increase the number of
1152:
Craven, Wesley F. and James L. Cate. The Army Air Forces in World War II, Volume 2, Chicago, Illinois: Chicago
University Press, 1949 (Reprinted 1983,
1056:
Craven, Wesley F. and James L. Cate. The Army Air Forces in World War II, Volume 2, Chicago, Illinois: Chicago University Press, 1949 (Reprinted 1983,
346:
1003:
1007:
248:
At this time, the island provided critical operational air bases for the Allies with proximity to Axis shipping lanes and the battlefields of
512:
Squadrons and the 31st Fighter Group with Spitfires, 47th Bombardment Group with A-20s, and the 57th and 79th Fighter Groups with P-40s.
1229:
150:
AHQ Malta remained in operation under British command until 1968 when it was disbanded. The British withdrew from Malta in 1979.
324:
139:(RAF) during the Second World War. It was established on 28 December 1941 by renaming RAF Mediterranean under Air Vice Marshal
38:
497:
1166:
Howe, George F., Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West, Center of Military History, Washington, DC., 1991.
501:
1157:
1061:
979:
624:
in the Canal Zone. This was just before the RAF presence at Elmas in Sardinia closed down on 10 December 1947.
1204:
919:
211:
328:
An Avro York of No. 246 Squadron RAF being loaded at RAF Luqa. Date not certain but between 1943 and 1945.
883:
in Cyprus. Air Commander Malta assumed direct command of RAF units assigned to Malta. On 1 February 1969
857:
292:
218:, Axis powers did not consider Malta much of an offensive threat. However it was considered an essential
333:
309:
540:
In mid-1945 the only flying units under the control of AHQ Malta were two air-sea rescue squadrons,
269:
102:
671:
568:(with Fulmars and Defiants at Hal Far). 782 NAS was administered by the local naval commander.
565:
472:
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249:
219:
215:
199:
1187:, Air Force Dept. Air Historical Branch, Great Britain. Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1989.
638:
aircraft and the squadron's identity were transferred to Aden, two aircraft were left to join
1198:
376:
313:
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to Hal Far, though it soon moved to Luqa. Re-equipment of the squadron from Shackletons to
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Dick, Ron and Dan Patterson, Aviation Century World War II, Boston Mills Press, 2004.
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297:
1163:
Richards, D. and H. Saunders, The Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (Volume 2, HMSO, 1953).
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Richards, D. and H. Saunders, The Royal Air Force 1939-1945 (Volume 2, HMSO, 1953).
694:
557:
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362:
180:
140:
1185:
Wings in the sun: a history of the Royal Air Force in the Mediterranean, 1945–1986
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Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation - Air Chf Marshal Sir Hugh Lloyd
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Air Forces were detached to Malta prior to the invasion of Sicily including Nos.
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Initially named RAF Mediterranean until renamed AHQ Malta on 28 December 1941
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642:, still at Luqa. In 1965, Air Vice-Marshal Robert Deacon-Elliott arrived at
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soon began. In October 1970 39 Squadron was moved back to Wyton in the UK.
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43:
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242:
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on Malta. During 1940 Malta's air defence force had been built up from
37:
The importance of defending AHQ Malta, the lone Allied bastion in the
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605:(a maritime reconnaissance unit flying Warwicks and Wellingtons) and
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288:
with an intermediate landing area known as the Safi Dispersal Strip.
234:
32:
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Military units and formations of the Royal Air Force in World War II
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On 1 July 1947, Air Vice Marshal C R Steele had AHQ Malta take over
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in Algeria. Withdrawal from these locations took a few more months.
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and the other, often very costly, efforts to resupply the island.
143:. Lloyd was named Air Officer Commanding in Malta on 1 June 1941.
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and AOC AHQ Malta as well as Deputy Commander-in-Chief (Air),
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In February 1943, AHQ Malta became a major sub-command of the
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135:(AHQ Malta or Air H.Q. Malta) was an overseas command of the
496:
Some other squadrons and flights from the Northwest African
867:
Air Commander Malta from 1968 to British withdrawal in 1979
536:
Evolving responsibilities after 1944 to disbandment in 1968
630:, which had arrived from Palestine in 1948, left Luqa for
970:
Fortress Malta : an island under siege, 1940-1943
493:
Notes: SAAF=South African Air Force; Det.=Detachment.
1205:"Overseas Commands - Middle East & Mediterranean"
965:
233:
delivered 47 Spitfires to Malta. Although the German
1245:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1968
583:, but this left AHQ Malta still commanding units in
276:. There were three main airfields on Malta known as
620:, Benina, and Castel Benito stations in Libya from
520:Some famous Aces stationed on Malta were Rhodesian
1033:
1031:
967:
654:
312:(MAC) following a decision by the Allies at their
41:in 1942, is emphasized by this map of the Italian
1240:Military units and formations established in 1941
212:Siege of Malta (11 June 1940 to 20 November 1942)
1221:
1209:Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
1110:Obituary: Air Vice-Marshal Robert Deacon-Elliott
245:took over command of AHQ Malta on 15 July 1942.
1028:
205:
291:During the month of October in 1942, when the
544:(flying Warwicks and Walruses from Hal Far),
1002:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
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912:
1021:
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571:During 1946 the remaining installations in
320:Operation Husky - Order of battle July 1943
1006:) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
16:WW2 command of the British Royal Air Force
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323:
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1250:Malta–United Kingdom military relations
846:Air Vice-Marshal Robert Deacon-Elliott
334:Allies invaded Sicily (Operation Husky)
1222:
548:(with the same types of aircraft from
296:British and American heavy bombers of
165:, both with seaplanes, were formed at
222:stronghold. This was exemplified by
214:, which was also early in the wider
1199:RAF Mediterranean, 3 September 1939
788:Air Vice Marshal C R Steele CB DFC
13:
1177:
939:
14:
1261:
1230:Royal Air Force overseas commands
1191:
1121:Lee, Wings in the Sun, 1989, 213.
1100:Lee, Wings in the Sun, 1989, 207.
634:in Aden in July 1957. While four
1112:, Daily Telegraph, 18 June 1997.
524:and the Canadian fighter pilots
79:
65:
31:
1133:
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1103:
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655:AHQ Malta Air Office Commanders
56:28 December 1941 – 30 June 1968
1067:
1050:
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966:Holland, James, 1970- (2003).
959:
950:
936:RAF Web Mediterranean Commands
871:The remaining units were only
813:Known as "Fortress Commander"
744:Air Vice Marshal R. M. Foster
515:
210:During the early stage of the
1:
1146:
807:Air Vice Marshal N.H. D'Aeth
766:Air Vice Marshal K. B. Lloyd
206:Defending Malta 1940 to 1942
7:
974:. New York: Miramax Books.
858:Allied Forces Mediterranean
646:to serve as both commander
526:George "Screwball" Beurling
293:Second Battle of El Alamein
10:
1266:
340:directed the units below.
153:
487:No. 983 Balloon Squadron
310:Mediterranean Air Command
117:
109:
98:
90:
75:
60:
52:
30:
23:
902:
852:Serve as both commander
579:were handed back to the
103:RAF Middle East Command
672:Air Officer Commanding
566:782 Naval Air Squadron
473:826 Naval Air Squadron
458:815 Naval Air Squadron
329:
229:On 20 April 1942, the
216:North African Campaign
200:Hal Far Fighter Flight
133:Air Headquarters Malta
24:Air Headquarters Malta
1215:on 10 September 2014.
1073:A reconnaissance unit
887:was transferred from
719:Air Vice Marshal Sir
377:de Havilland Mosquito
327:
314:Casablanca Conference
304:On the offensive 1943
250:Egypt, Libya, Tunisia
241:Air Vice Marshal Sir
39:Mediterranean theater
926:on 10 September 2014
885:No. 203 Squadron RAF
546:No. 284 Squadron RAF
542:No. 283 Squadron RAF
453:No. 249 Squadron RAF
447:No. 683 Squadron RAF
439:No. 600 Squadron RAF
434:No. 229 Squadron RAF
428:No. 272 Squadron RAF
420:No. 256 Squadron RAF
415:No. 185 Squadron RAF
406:No. 221 Squadron RAF
393:No. 126 Squadron RAF
384:No. 108 Squadron RAF
368:No. 40 Squadron SAAF
163:No. 268 Squadron RAF
159:No. 267 Squadron RAF
881:Near East Air Force
640:No. 38 Squadron RAF
628:No. 37 Squadron RAF
607:No. 73 Squadron RAF
603:No. 38 Squadron RAF
581:French Armed Forces
483:No. 1435 Flight RAF
398:No. 73 Squadron RAF
388:Bristol Beaufighter
373:No. 23 Squadron RAF
360:No. 69 Squadron RAF
122:Accidet Nemo Impune
613:carrier squadron.
410:Vickers Wellington
330:
224:Operation Pedestal
177:anti-aircraft guns
864:
863:
693:Air Vice Marshal
622:No. 205 Group RAF
491:
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336:on 10 July 1943,
316:in January 1943.
194:the three famous
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1211:. Archived from
1197:Leo Niehorster,
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922:. Archived from
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757:19 October 1944
738:18 October 1944
668:Duration months
659:
658:
554:22 Squadron SAAF
400:Det., Hurricane
363:Martin Baltimore
347:No. 248 Wing RAF
343:
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181:fighter aircraft
169:in August 1918.
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1178:Further reading
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466:Fairey Albacore
422:Det., Mosquito
351:Spitfire units
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137:Royal Air Force
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113:Valletta (1945)
85:Royal Air Force
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941:
928:. Retrieved
924:the original
897:
877:39 Squadrons
870:
684:1 June 1941
626:
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601:
570:
539:
530:Wally McLeod
519:
495:
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354:Other units
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286:RAF Ta' Kali
274:World War II
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132:
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110:Headquarters
99:Part of
44:Mare Nostrum
42:
18:
930:2 September
893:BAe Nimrods
843:~36 months
665:Date ended
516:Famous Aces
449:, Spitfire
278:RAF Hal Far
254:Pantelleria
1224:Categories
1147:References
1139:Lee, 217-8
1091:Lee, 162-3
849:Gibraltar
779:June 1947
760:June 1947
721:Keith Park
695:Hugh Lloyd
611:Royal Navy
243:Keith Park
141:Hugh Lloyd
998:cite book
679:Comments
644:Gibraltar
562:Gibraltar
338:AHQ Malta
332:When the
235:Luftwaffe
26:AHQ Malta
1130:Lee, 213
1082:Lee, 162
990:53096284
956:Lee, 160
920:"CMD O2"
772:, Malta
770:Valletta
750:, Malta
748:Valletta
728:, Malta
726:Valletta
702:, Malta
700:Valletta
589:Sardinia
558:Venturas
556:(flying
498:Tactical
282:RAF Luqa
262:Sardinia
231:USS Wasp
192:Charity,
118:Motto(s)
618:El Adem
593:Corsica
577:Tunisia
573:Algeria
564:), and
502:Coastal
272:during
266:Corsica
198:of the
154:History
94:Command
61:Country
1156:
1060:
988:
978:
873:Nos 13
585:Sicily
460:Det. (
284:, and
268:, and
258:Sicily
220:Allied
190:, and
185:Faith,
105:(1939)
76:Branch
53:Active
1173:1944.
1047:1944.
903:Notes
837:1965
818:1952
801:1952
716:20.5
690:13.5
550:Elmas
1154:ISBN
1058:ISBN
1008:link
1004:link
986:OCLC
976:ISBN
932:2014
875:and
595:and
575:and
528:and
508:and
500:and
188:Hope
179:and
161:and
91:Type
763:32
560:at
477:FAA
464:),
462:FAA
1226::
1207:.
1160:).
1064:).
1030:^
1016:^
1000:}}
996:{{
984:.
911:^
860:.
830:?
827:?
824:?
821:?
810:?
804:?
798:?
791:?
785:?
782:?
741:7
591:,
587:,
532:.
510:93
506:92
479:)
408:,
386:,
375:,
300:.
280:,
264:,
260:,
256:,
252:,
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