The strange story of the Blenheims of 82 Squadron.

[sergey]

Colleagues, I read the following in the Malta War Diaries for June 25, 1941:
Malta’s Royal Navy and RAF commanders received urgent orders today to stop an enemy convoy ‘at all costs’. Intelligence reports had been received in London of a fast German troop convoy consisting of four large liners as well as merchant ships heading out of Naples for North Africa. In a combined sea and air operation, HM Submarines Urge, Unbeaten and Upholder were immediately sent to intercept while 830 Squadron Fleet Air Arm were also ordered in to attack, followed by RAF Blenheim low-level torpedo bombers.

In view of recent Blenheim losses, 69 Squadron was also asked to assist in the attack. The Maryland reconnaissance squadron was given the task of dive-bombing the convoy to cause a distraction and enable the main attack to be pressed home. Four Marylands spent this morning practicing over Filfla; the aircraft of Flt/Lt Warburton was damaged in the exercise.

A group of Marylands took off from Malta this afternoon to shadow the convoy. The 13 Swordfish of 830 Squadron FAA followed at 6pm and used the Marylands to locate their target. A second flight of four Marylands took off ahead of the Blenheims to launch the main night attack on the convoy.

https://maltagc70.wordpress.com/cate...941/june-1941/
The most puzzling thing is that a) 23 (!) Blenheims of 82 Squadron arrived in Malta on June 18-20, and b) Marylands of 69 Squadron and Swordfish of 830 Squadron took part in the evening attack on the convoy, but the Blenheims didn't attack (there are no reports from either the British or the Italians), even though there are reports of the sortie in both the Malta Diaries and the Admiralty Diaries. Considering that I couldn't find any mention of operations in Malta in May-June in the War Diary of 82 Squadron, there's some kind of mystery. Please help me solve it.

sergey

[Chris Goss]

The problem is with many of these short term detachments from UK to Malta that the F540 was either not completed or lost

[sergey]

These aircraft were ferried from England via Gibraltar, confirmation of their arrival is in the Malta Diaries and there are no reports of any accidents.

[Chris Goss]

82 Sqn was based at Watton and was detached to a number of UK bases as well as Malta and did not leave Watton until March 1942 for the Far East. Paperwork tended to be secondary to operations in such cases-I have come across this many times with other units in 1941

[sergey]

Unfortunately, that's true. I'm trying to get information about the Blenheims' activities in Malta (I still have questions), but I haven't found any squadron logs for that period.

[sergey]

25 June. Convoy 4 large M /V’s 20,000 tons and 7 destroyers
35 miles south Cape ? Spartivento southbound 2
battleships entering Messina Straits from South.
Messina harbour 3 cruisers 8 medium M/V's.
Blenheims Marylands and Swordfish being
despatched to attack convoy.
(H.Q. R.A.F. Malta, 1730/25.)
Night 25/26 June
4 Maryands attacked Convoy 4 M.V.'s 20,000 tons,
6 D.R.'s off Sicily at dusk (25/6) 1 direct hit
at least 1,500 lb. M.Bomb cusing fire with much
smoke amidships . 1 Maryland missing. Later 7
Swordfish made Torpedoattack 2 M.V.'s hit with
third probable hit. Fur ther results unobserved
owing to darkness. One Swordfish missing.
(H.Q. R.A.F. Malta 1801/26.)
https://sccd.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/medi...bd09e960a227cc
This is information about the convoy attacks from the Admiralty War Diaries. There's no mention of Blenheims' involvement.

[AndreasB]

Blenheims Marylands and Swordfish being
despatched to attack convoy.
(H.Q. R.A.F. Malta, 1730/25.)

It is possible they did not find the convoy?

Seekrieg notes that this was a northbound convoy in which two ships were damaged (Wachtfels and Tembien) and none sunk.

All the best

Andreas

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by sergey

Unfortunately, that's true. I'm trying to get information about the Blenheims' activities in Malta (I still have questions), but I haven't found any squadron logs for that period.

You might find something in National Archives AIR 24/908: AHQ Malta, ORBs with appendices (Jun 1940–Aug 1942) or AIR 22/392 Malta Daily IntSums (Jan 1942–Jan 1943)

[sergey]

Originally Posted by AndreasB

It is possible they did not find the convoy?

Seekrieg notes that this was a northbound convoy in which two ships were damaged (Wachtfels and Tembien) and none sunk.

No. It was the Esperia-Oceania-Neptunia-Marco Polo convoy to Tripoli. Maryland scouts continuously followed it and successfully targeted Maryland bombers and Swordfish.

[AndreasB]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

You might find something in National Archives AIR 24/908: AHQ Malta, ORBs with appendices (Jun 1940–Aug 1942) or AIR 22/392 Malta Daily IntSums (Jan 1942–Jan 1943)

For October onwards AIR24/908 is only a monthly summary with no detail on sorties.

All the best

Andreas