Malta Aircraft Defence

[Jim Oxley]

Originally Posted by Adriano Baumgartner

Graham,

Just for curiosity, but are you telling me that those Spits which flew above 30,000 feet DID NOT have oxygen systems installed?

Adriano,
The Spitfires did have oxygen tanks installed as standard. However there were several instances during 1943 where the tanks had not been filled (reasons unknown) prior to a mission flown, which caused several deaths, including Sq. Ld. Thorold-Smith on 15-3-1943. There were also a number of sorties abandoned by pilots due to oxygen failure.

An excellent book covering No.1 Wing RAAF operations over Darwin is titled 'Darwin Spitfires', by Anthony Cooper.

[Adriano Baumgartner]

JIM,

Thanks for the book reference. It seems interesting to note that other Allied units suffered from the same problems of Logistics and poor Leadership (really criminal to send those fighters above 12,000 feet WITHOUT oxygen!) from above. One should have carried a "Top Brass" on one of those flights so he could have a glimpse of the problems involved himself...

I had read previously about problems (leakages) on oxygen systems and masks, but never about tanks not being filled properly and causing deaths amongst seasoned (and irreplaceable) Aviators and airmen.

Quite an interesting topic indeed.

Thank you again for the thread and the book references.

Adriano

[Graham Boak]

Apologies for that slip: however several of these (implicitly quite a considerable number) lacked heating for the guns. But it is possible to spend a lot of time discussing these rather than "Malta" Tomahawks.

Before getting too obsessed with Muncheberg's victories over Hurricanes, remember that Marseille was shot down twice within a few days by Hurricane pilots: at least one, possibly both, the Alsace pilot James Denis.

[BruceMk11]

Regarding 49th FG claims, I'm hanging out for Michael Claringbould to turn his laser research abilities onto the Darwin raids in 1942/43.

Jim, no need to keep hanging out!

https://avonmorebooks.com.au/?page=3&id=89

https://avonmorebooks.com.au/?page=3&id=125

[Jim Oxley]

Thanks for the links Bruce. Appreciate it.
Somehow I missed both those books.