Malta, No 107 Squadron

[sergey]

Hi,
Colleagues,
Please help me find out when Blenheims the No 107 Squadron arrived in Malta in 1941 and how long it was there.

[Chris Goss]

It would have been when they were at Great Massingham post-11 May 1941. You should be able to get this from the F540 on line at the National Archives

[Buckeye30]

Sergey. If you can't locate as Chris says, Richard Caruana included 107 in his book " Victory in the air"; they arrived at Luqa from Gt. Massingham on Aug. 20 beginning ops next month. The detachment on Malta (not the squadron) was disbanded 12 Jan. 1942 and replaced by 21 Sqn ( 2nd time on Malta).
The remainder of 107 at GM re-equipped with Boston IIIs.
Nick

[sergey]

Thank you for your reply.
Please tell me, did the surviving planes leave Malta or join other squadrons?

[Buckeye30]

Sergey. Most of the Blenheims were lost and I don't think it would be practical to return a few worn-out Mk.IVs to the UK; they would either have gone to other units on Malta ( all based at Luqa) or sent to the Western Desert as some others were.
This is an interesting piece on 107's time in October 1941. Losses were heavier later.
Nick
https://rommelsriposte.com/2012/12/1...-october-1941/

[sergey]

https://rommelsriposte.com/2012/12/1...-october-1941/
Thank. I have this information.
The question arose because I have information that a lot of Blenheims flew through Malta to the Middle East and it was not difficult to make up for any of their losses in Malta. However, the remnants of the squadrons for some reason were withdrawn at first (21th and 139th) to England.

[AndreasB]

There's nothing in the ORB on the plane movements. I would agree that it wouldn't have made sense to send planes back to the UK.


All the best


Andreas