The US Aircraft Carrier and British Spitfires. The Malta Convoys 1940 - 1942

Since June of 1940, the Island of Malta was under siege by German & Italian forces.
A new front had opened in Africa and Malta found itself to be right in the middle of a fierce battle between British Air and Sea forces and those of Germany and Italy.
The Island began the war very poorly defended and British defences of aged Gloster Sea Gladiators and Hawker Hurricanes were struggling to hold onto the Island.
If it falls, then the Axis powers will invade.
If it remains under allied control then Germany will be defeated in Africa.
The Battle for Malta must not be lost!
On the 10th June, Italy declared war on the United Kingdom and France. Italy had for a while been seeking to expand its territories in the Mediterranean and Africa and following the Allied defeat and the capitulation of France that same month Italy saw an immediate opportunity.
The Siege of Malta lasted from June 1940 to November of 1942. The allies desperately reinforced their air defences with first Hawker Hurricanes and then Supermarine Spitfires using aircraft carriers such as HMS Ark Royal, HMS Illustrious, HMS Victorious, HMS Furious and HMS Eagle.
Due to a shortage of carriers, they would resort to loaning an American carrier, USS Wasp to transport Spitfires.

[@carmelpule6954]

I was born in Malta just before WW2 started. I remember my late mother Cettina saying that once she heard the siren signaling an air attack and she run towards the nearest underground shelter, with me, as a one-year-old baby in her arms. Shen managed to reach the shelter opening/entry but there was a flight of twenty steps down and she missed one step and she and I in her arms, fell down the flight of steps. It was February and she says that I was wrapped so well in thick coverings that, while she fell down the steps I rolled down beside her, bouncing from one step to the other till the last one where I came to rest a little dazed. There is so much to relate, including my mother walking twice weekly a 20 miles return trip, from Vittoriosa to Mqabba to fetch some food/ vegetables from the family members who had some field/plots out there, and she did the best she could to feed us four brothers and later two sisters. It was not easy for military personnel and civilian people like us. We lived near the Dockyard Harbour area which took a heavy hammering and so my father decided to move out of the harbor area and go to a farm at the Siggiewi outskirts a small village inland that had no primary target as the harbor and the airport. After all these years, while my parents passed away, we six children are still alive and now we are all much older than our parents had been. I take this opportunity to thank military personnel and parents who looked after us during 1940-1945.

[@yoshshmenge294]

My Grandfather helped defend Malta. Born and raised in Malta, he joined the Canadian Air Force. After the war he served in Germany then Canada.

[@markrobinson1135]

What language did your grandfather speak?

[@Prog4Prog]

There’s a Facebook group called RAF Takali, some amazing photos, stories.

[@user-yt6cq7ex6q]

My grandfather was a Pilot Officer who was killed while transporting a Wellington bomber to Malta in March 1942. Thank you for outlining the dire situation on the island at the time of his death. It has helped to make things a little clearer about why he was flying from Gibraltar to Malta.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you liked the video.

[@qtig9490]

What an incredible story, a Candaian Spitfire pilot both takes off and lands on the asp and gets Navy wings for it?! I had no idea the USS Wasp was involved in this amazing effort to fly Spitfires and Hurricanes into Malta! Let alone that they were flown off carriers at all even one way! In America little is know of these accomplishments and that is a shame. Thank you for your excellent work highlighting these many significant contributions to the Allied war effort. Once again simply amazing pics to go along with the great narration.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks very much, appreciated.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

I believe that USS Wasp carried out two ferry runs to Malta, generating a signal from Churchill to Roosevelt that 'Who says a Wasp can't sting twice.'

[@tomjustis7237]

Somewhat surprised you didn't mention Flying Officer George "Buzz" Beurling. He flew Spitfires over Malta and was Canada's top ace of World War Two. By wars end he was credited with 27 confirmed kills and had been awarded the DSO, DFC and DFM with bar. For anyone interested, there is a book titled "Malta Spitfire" which details his incredible actions over that tiny island.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I'll look into him, thanks.

[@_Braised]

This video ends in April 1942, whereas Beurling wouldn't make his debut in Malta until June.

[@tomjustis7237]

@@_Braised Thanks for the clarification. I should have picked up on that but just plain missed it.

[@davidbirt8486]

He was a brave pilot, but this video is about the aircraft re-supply runs.Beurling was a genuine hero.

[@frankanderson5012]

@@_Braised The last date referred to in this video is October, by which time he had shot down over twenty enemy aircraft. Worthy of mention I would have thought.

[@davidelliott5843]

My Aunt was an army nurse on Malta. She was there from 1939 to 1942. She told me about RMS Ohio the petrol tanker that refused to sink.

[@nickdanger3802]

SS Ohio, "on loan" to Britain.

[@andymicklewright3749]

@@nickdanger3802 operation pedestal is great story of bravery, adaptation and sheer guts and willpower. All about getting the Ohio there as Malta now had planes and grain, but no fuel.

[@Baza1964]

@@andymicklewright3749 I read the book about Ohio and operation Pedestal , I could not put the book down . Amazing story , at the end when they pumped the fuel out of Ohio , they had to fill the tanks with sea water at the same time so she wouldn't break her back . Not long after hostilities had finished in the area they towed her out of the harbour and let her sink . She is still there .

[@andymicklewright3749]

@@Baza1964 was it called Malta Convoy, if so I read that in 2 days when we went to Malta for the first time. Thought she was towed out and used as target practice?

[@Baza1964]

@@andymicklewright3749 she was broken in half , both parts towed out and just sunk clear of being a shipping hazard. Yes I think the book was called Malta Convoy , such a long time ago.(sigh).

[@haroldgodwinson832]

My Father was an air gunner in a Bristol Beaufort torpedo bomber squadron (39) stationed on the Island in 1942. I still have two 20 mm cannon rounds he salvaged from one of the shot-up Spitfires that had been landed from the USS Wasp. He said they were just bulldozed off the runway after they were destroyed and left there. He said they could get up to 20 air raids a day on Malta. Not a happy place.

[@geordiedog1749]

Have you read ‘Torpedo Leader’ by Wg Cmdr Patrick Gibbs? If not I would recommend it especially as you’ve a personal attachment:)

[@haroldgodwinson832]

@@geordiedog1749 Yes, thanks; I have the book. Actually, I purchased it while my father was still in the land of the living. Although I offered, he expressed 'zero' interest in reading it. He had few fond memories of the war and many bitter ones; starting with a 40% casualty rate for the crews on his operational training course, and going down sharply from there. Unfortunately, he had nothing but contempt and loathing for Pat Gibbs, whom he regarded as an indifferent RAF 'careerist', with all that that implies. To put this view in the context of the times; my father served in two Beaufort squadrons (starting with 86, with the remnant's of that being then folded into 39). During that period he said he didn't know of a single individual who managed to complete a tour of operations.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@haroldgodwinson832 That’s fascinating. I actually think I know what he meant about Gibbs. He was a fairly typical - what I call - ‘Death Cult’ British military officer ie he had scant regard for his or anyone else’s safety/life/well being. Makes for heroic leaders and medal winners but Mr Average Joseph H Bloggs like us end up dead in his narrative. The attrition rate your old fella is describing is near scandalous! One thing that I find interesting though is in regard to Pedestal. It’s often thought that if the Italian Navy had used its cruisers to attack the convoy they’d have wiped it out ( save the Brisbane Star) thus winning the strategic victory as well as the tactical one but they didn’t due to the ruse about an impending (non existent) air attack as they lacked air cover. However, in the book Gibbs describes x3 Beaufort squadrons ready and waiting to intercept them from Malta had they attempted an attack on the convoy.

[@haroldgodwinson832]

@@geordiedog1749 Yes, I'm sure the strike aircraft on Malta would have been used to engage Italian warships, had they attempted to interdict the relief convoys. In fact, I'm sure I remember my father telling me that on one occasion they took off, in squadron strength, to do just that (attack the Italian fleet), but the operation was thankfully aborted half way to the point of certain death. Why it was aborted I have no idea. Also, I suspect your assessment of Gibbs is probably fairly accurate. He certainly led from the front, as they say; there's no question about that. A cynic might note, as my father was and did, that more often than not the first aircraft would get through, but wake up the flak in the process, and it was the second or third aircraft in the vic (or both) that got clobbered. Whether that's true or not I don't know but it was certainly what he believed. Anyway, thanks for the interest.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@haroldgodwinson832 Cheers for that. A bit of real history!

[@lukeportelli2097]

As a Maltese local, I say well done for the documentary and thanks for taking your time to put photos that were taken in Malta. I also learned something new apart of "Operation Pedestal" or how we Maltese say it, "Il-Konvoy ta Santa Marija". Well done 🙂

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@lukeportelli2097]

@@TheNorthernHistorian thanks 😊

[@retrovideoquest]

The Santa Marija convoy is well worth not just a separate video but a full movie. An absolutely epic story.

[@pedromacd]

This is one of the campaigns my grandad fought in during the war. He was a Navigator/Wireless Operator and flew on Bristol Beaufighter torpedeo bombers. He also fought in North Africa.

[@shannon7002]

A very powerful Aircraft flown by aggressive pilots and crew in Britain and overseas.

[@Bruce-1956]

My father spent almost two years in the Med., stationed in Alexandria, defending the convoys.

[@kieronwhite5191]

My heartfelt gratitude to your Father for his services to defend the freedom of the world ❤️

[@TankUni]

My uncle was a navigator on a Lockheed Hudson that was being ferried to the Far East, with a leg of the journey being from Gibraltar to Malta. Unfortunately the aircraft crashed on Malta. For years we thought it was due to enemy action but internet records showed that it was due to pilot error. They'd been coming in from the north-west early in the morning to avoid enemy activity and there may have been mist, leading to the aircraft clipping hills west of Luqa Aerodrome (18 January 1942). He was only 20.

[@stevensantiago1977]

Your father was a bum walking around Malta selling his shithole to his mates he defended the corner he was working on waiting for the convoy to come in to sell his shithole to the sailers

[@davidpeppert9168]

Great video, the second siege of Malta was as epic as the first great siege. My father’s cousin George Robertson , a stoker aboard HMS Southampton was sadly killed when the ship was attacked and severely damaged by the Stukas of the Immelmann Staffel in January 1941.

[@darrensmith6999]

Great Video as always thank you! There is a great movie on the subject called The Malta Story staring Sir Alec Guinness.

[@rodgeyd6728]

Wonderful Island, wonderful people, would love to return too Malta one day. The Knights of Malta, the Maltese Falcon, then the British, an island full of history and its will to overcome the odds. ,🇲🇹🇬🇧

[@GrrMeister]

*We owe a great debt to Malta and in fact the Island was awarded the George Cross in recognition - hence Malta GC*

[@bremnersghost948]

Absolutely, Malta surviving meant the Axis were bound to lose WW2 by the start of 1942.

[@unitedwestand5100]

You idiots, Britain could barely defend their meager forces on Malta, and couldn't resupply them. Malta had no effect on preventing German supply convoys to N Africa. Other than subjecting the Maltese people to unbelievable hardships, the British presence on Malta, had no effect on the outcome of WWII, or the N African campaign.

[@glynjones8187]

@@unitedwestand5100 how do you manage to breath, deficate and talk out you're hoop at the same time?

[@unitedwestand5100]

@@glynjones8187 ,. That's a typical Troll response.. When you cant debate the facts, because your uninformed, you attack the poster. Grow up little girl. Try to prove me wrong. If not for the US Navy the British government couldn't have resupplied Malta with Spitfires. The USS Wasp ferried Spitfires to Malta twice. Operation Calender, and Operation Bowery. When Malta ran out of fuel for the Spitfires, and everyone on Malta was starving, the British couldn't even get a convoy to Malta. How were they supposed to be stopping German convoys to N Africa? They could barely defend their meager forces on Malta. Britain had moved their Medeterainian fleet HQs to Egypt in 1939, because they were helpless to defend them on Malta. Hate the game, you uneducated idiot, not the player.

[@glynjones8187]

@@unitedwestand5100 if you actually know your history, yes the uk did rely heavily on the US for the supply of Malta but if it were not for the allied attempt to suppress the axis in Europe first and the supply of arms to Russia then the war would not have been won by the Americans in the Pacific and in Japan. Also not to mention the Berma campaign which actually accounted for a lot of English casualties because the Americans were unwilling to attack Japan and wanted to stay neutral. America was basically totally unprepared and unwilling to fight a war in 1939, Russia got caught with her pa ts down and had to retreat back into the mother land, France folded and Italy basically satin which ever side line was winning. Unfortunately us British, Polish, French, Dutch and the rest of the European continental shelf bore the brunt at first. So go get an education in history and start learning about the past so we do not repeat it in the future 😘

[@rustyrover3808]

Excellent documentary, I thought I knew most of the Malta history but never knew of the club runs 👍

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

To be honest, I only touched the surfaced of the whole story. There is so much to learn when you dive into the whole story.

[@samrodian919]

I was glad to be reminded of this as I heard about the RAF reinforcement of Malta as a schoolboy, more than 50 years ago! Thank you for posting this.

[@thewatcher5271]

What A Great Video! Never Knew That About The Canadian Spitfire Pilot & Really Glad To Know This History. Movie Fans Will Like 'The Malta Story' With Sir Alec Guinness. Thank You.

[@Saxondog]

Shame the Gladiators were not mentioned. They held their own against the 109 because they could completely out turn them. The were mentioned in The Victor comic for boys, when I was a little lad in the mid sixties. Faith, Hope and Charity were the only three to face the German airforce.

[@zzirSnipzz1]

Crazy how much british carriers could dodge sad that ark was sunk by a pesky U-boat

[@jonathanj.7344]

And the Eagle too.

[@HankD13]

Wonderful. History that really deserves to be better remembered. Bloody brilliant.

[@lanternsown3525]

I read about Pilot Officer Smith story a few years the Bravery it took to land on the USS Wasp is almost unbelievable the man was a true hero.

[@caelidhg6261]

He was my mum's first cousin. I am still in contact with his younger sister Wendy who lives in Vancouver. Jerry's feat was always talked about. We had the official photos and a copy of Harpers where it was written up.

[@RudneiDiasdaCunha]

Just a remark on one of the photos used: the one captioned "Italian Forces in Egypt" (4'24'') actually shows British or Commonwealth troops on Bren Carriers (also check the British Mk I helmets).

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Yes, that was mentioned to me some time ago. My accuracy in images selected has improved since then

[@ronti2492]

PSS I really should wait until the END of your videos before I comment..... apologies, that Canadian pilot landed his Spitfire on the deck without any arrester gear.....wow

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Quite a feat of airmanship

[@varschnitzschnur8795]

Some accounts state submarines were based at Malta, and these raised havoc with convoys for the Afrika Corps.

[@dave_h_8742]

My Uncle was in stubmarines based in Malta.

[@Cuccos19]

It was interesting the C-type wing of the Spitfires were fully loaded with 4x 20mm cannons and 4x .303 machineguns on the launch. For the missions they were halved and reduced to the usual 2x 20mm cannons (they were about 50kgs per each and made the Spitfire too heavy for dogfighting succesfuly) but also the usual 4x .303 machineguns were reduced only for two (one per wing, the inboard ones were kept). If I'm right it was to conserve the arms for later if they cannot get suply on time. I bought about 7 books about the WWII history of Malta when I was there once, during my cruise ship work at Cunard. Malta is a great place, I loved it so much. I visited the War Museum as well, I spent hours there.

[@ryansta]

Well put together materials of stories that deserve to be known. Thank you

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MrDaiseymay]

Another Great Vid Sir. I visited Malta's War Museum , back in the 80's, and on a wall, was a huge Wartime Poster, Showing a half-round image of the world, with Goering, trying to scrub Malta off the planet with Mop and Bucket. Hitler is seen peering over the worlds northern horizon, down on Goering, and angrily shouting, ''Haven't you cleared up that mess yet? '' A German tourist & I, both laughed out loud.

[@panzerivausfg4062]

Your videos are very interesting! You pick stories that are known but not to much analyzed and explained and this is what I like! I believe your subscriber number will rise soon.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks very much. My channel has began to grow quite nicely so I must be doing something right. I have lots of ideas still to create. Thanks for your comment

[@pmjbacon]

All the people of Malta were awarded the George cross... the highest civilian award.

[@teddyhansen9178]

really good vids. A new look at the fantastic historie of aviation. Keep em coming. Thanks a lot 🙂

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks a lot!

[@stevensonDonnie]

Lived in Malta for 2 years. Loved it. Lived in Sliema. I worked in Ta ‘Qali ( the Q is silent), which became a drag strip after the war and then the U.S. Embassy. They found several bombs from W W 2. Malta had the first British Radar outside of Britain in WW 2.

[@LordFlash1]

great video, restores my faith and respect for britain thankyou for sharing

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

@@nickdanger3802 Hi. I've created a Paypal link for my channel now. Many thanks.

[@sashaburrow6186]

My great uncle Raymond "Hess" Hesselyn was one of the Spitfire pilots who defended Malta (19 aerial victories - 12 over Malta) - later co-writing a well received book "Spitfires over Malta" by Plt Off Paul Brennen DFC DFM, Plt Off Ray Hesselyn DFM.

[@gyslainbeauchamp9241]

Happilly for the People of malta, the falcon of malta canadien ,montrealer,George Burling,fight &defend the area till the end. R.ip,❤🇨🇦

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

Faith, Hope, Charity, Despiration, Inspiration and... The rest of the British Empire.

[@josephking6515]

Thank you. I was disappointed that they were not explicitly mentioned by name in the video as they were well know at the time and even in later history books that I had read.

[@neilgriffiths6427]

Eh? Sorry, mate, don't understand.

[@terrysmith9362]

they relate to 3 British planes based on Malts. I think they were Seordfish

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

Sea Gladiators. They were what Malta had before the cavalry turned up.

[@terrysmith9362]

@@ABrit-bt6ce thanks

[@cameronalexander359]

Such brave men. Courage and daring. Thanks for telling their story.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@garymcaleer6112]

Illiterates were in denial of Churchill. His voice alone stood alone.

[@paulfletcher2029]

Britain in turn loaned a carrier to the U S for operations off Dutch East indies.

[@garymcaleer6112]

@@paulfletcher2029 Didn't know. Thanks.

[@paulfletcher2029]

The carrier was H M S Victorius loaned to the U S Navy in December 1942

[@garymcaleer6112]

@@paulfletcher2029 Allot of blood spilled side-by-side. Same with the Filipinos, Aussies and others. That makes us all as the American Indian says, "blood brothers."

[@paulfletcher2029]

@@garymcaleer6112 The Japanese soldier imbued with the spirit of Bushido was a ruthless fighter quite capable of inumrable atrocties commited by him. The Australians, British, Dutch, filipinos felt their full fury. In time they were beaten by the Australians in New Guinea and North Borneo, the U S in Guadelcanal, Iwo, Okinawa etc and the British Indian army in Kohima, Imphal in India and later throughout Burna.

[@privatepilot4064]

My wife is Maltese. My father-in-law and his Dad were strafed by a bf-109.

[@southerneruk]

Mixing up battles, the Battle for Malta was over before the USA entered the war, after the Battle of Malta (the second major battle that the Germans lost) the islands became important for the Battle of North Africa, Malta was in the way of Germany supplying its troops in North Africa and was bomb for the fighter planes, You had Egypt one end, the rock the other end and Malta in the middle all attacking the German convoys to North Africa, It got real bad for Germany in the Med sea with only 1 ship out of 8 arriving in North Africa. This one of the major reasons why Germany lost in North Africa, the supplies was too little

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

Not really. Malta's situation was precarious until Operation Pedestal in August 1942.

[@southerneruk]

@@dovetonsturdee7033 It was always precarious, that is the nature of Malta, Who ever holds those islands, the Battle of Malta was the first time in history it had been defended against invasion force, After the Battle of Malta there was no threat of invasion, only one of starvation. It's the same in what Germany tried with Britain, once the invasion force gone, it down to a blockade to try and starve the country

[@majorlee76251]

As cousin Winston said"Who said a WASP could not sting twice"

[@BatMan-xr8gg]

Another excellent video. Really enjoyed it and the information was very good. Well done. Good to see your Subs rising as well.

[@phbrinsden]

Love Malta and it’s people. I had my honeymoon there in ‘67 as it was in the “Sterling Area”. I recall sitting in the street in the evening outside our open door and just enjoying the neighbors and their children. The Maltese people earned their GC awarded by the King. I prefer to call it Malta GC so their tenacity and the hardship they endured is not forgotten.

[@louiswilliamhicks]

One of my favourite videos so far. Good job.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thank you very much Louis.

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

Honourable mention for George Frederick "Buzz" Beurling, DSO, DFC, DFM & Bar (6 December 1921 - 20 May 1948) who was the most successful Canadian fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War. Beurling was credited with shooting down 27 Axis aircraft in just 14 days over Malta. He arrived in June, 1942 after having flown off HMS Eagle in a Spitfire VC.

[@beagle7622]

There was a great film with Alec Guinness as a pilot of a photo reconnaissance Spitfire . That showed the desperation of the local population & the British forces during this battle .

[@wesk123]

Strange that the Hawker Hurricane (although inferior to the spitfire) managed to hold it's own against the same Bf109E, Me110 and Ju88 during the battle of Britain... Certainly they were a better combat aircraft that the Wildcats used to 'protect' the Spitfires!

[@nickdanger3802]

Source?

[@phbrinsden]

The wildcats were flying cover protecting the Wasp mainly, not the Spits which would head out to Malta immediately.

[@midlandgeordie]

Great detail 👍 Thank god for the spitfire and brave pilots

[@iainmalcolm9583]

Great video. Some really good lesser known details that adds to the whole Malta story.

[@themodernwarfarehistorian825]

Splendid video! Bravo!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thank you very much!

[@geordiedog1749]

I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that if Ohio hadn’t made it to Grand Harbour, Valletta with its cargo then we’d all be wearing ledahausen and our kids would sing Horst Wessel in school.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Hi Richard. I've had a few people comment today on the role of the tankers. I suppose it's easy to focus on the 'star players' such as the carriers and the fighters but I think I'm going to look into the roles these other ships carried out. It would be wrong to discount how important they were.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@TheNorthernHistorian Y’aleeet, like? My ‘expertise’ for want of a better word is Operation Pedestal. I got vaguely obsessed* with Pedestal and the other convoys to Malta. If you do one on those I’m happy to help. You can have a loan of my Pedestal library. It’s at me mams in Tynemouth. *I think that’s an oxymoron.

[@dogcarman]

Nope. Compared to the East Front, North Africa was a sideshow. Besides, neither Germany nor Italy had the naval muscle for long-term campaigning demanding supplies being brought across the Med, with or without Malta. Sure the war might have lasted a few months longer but North Africa was not going to decide anything. Compare with the savaging of the Japanese merchant navy by US submarines - the same thing could have been done in the Med theater, and no supplies means no chance of success.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@dogcarman Well, I have to disagree as did Kesselring who was in a good position to judge. It is all about ‘little oil’ and ‘big oil’. ‘Little oil’ is the supply of the Malta garrison and the supply of Rommel in North Africa. A comparisons of supplies to and from Europe to Axis forces in Africa with an offensively capable Malta and a purely defensive or combat ineffective one quite clearly demonstrate the hold Malta had on logistics to the Africa Korps and Italian Army. By the time Pedestal was enacted Malta was a month from surrender - the date set as being 6th September. SS Ohio was borrowed from the US in a swap for Britain’s atomic bomb secrets such was the importance given to this endeavour (bear in mind we’d already borrowed and sunk her sister the Kentucky trying to supply Malta). That’s the ‘little oil’ part. The ‘big oil’ was what was then know as Persia ie modern day Iraq and Iran. A fully fuelled/logistics Africa Korps could have pushed through to capture these oil fields and the Axis oil problem is solved. There would of course be issues in logistics for the Axis but with Middle Eastern oil in their hands and not Britain’s (as well as the loss of the Suez Canal) one of the most inhibiting factors for Hitler would have been addressed.

[@paulfletcher2029]

Its a complete understatenent although the Ohio fastened between two destroyers with its decks awash did reach Valetta harbour in Malta

[@s208richard8]

Need to feature the SS Ohio - the oil tanker that would not sink - in operation Pedestal, and of course Captain Dudley W. Mason.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll read up on Ohio and see if it's worthy of a video. Cheers

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

@@xlbubblehead2505 After doing my research into this topic, I'm actually considering a trip to Malta (Once Covid allows). Looks a beautiful and interesting place.

[@geordiedog1749]

I don’t suppose you happen to know how Master Mason injured his hands during Pedestal, do you? He’s clearly got them bandaged immediately post op. in Grand Habour and also in an interview several weeks later but, despite a lot of research, I just can’t find any mention of how he did it. I going to guess it was burns - maybe grabbing a railing that had got hot due to fire. There’s nothing I can find in any of the literature or interviews or in his award citations. Roger Hill mentions it in ‘Destroyer Captain’ but not how it happened.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

@@geordiedog1749 I'm definitely going to research more into this story and see what I can discover.

[@s208richard8]

@@geordiedog1749 www.vconline.org.uk/dudley-w-mason-gc/4589321630 This just mentions burns. Seems he and the crew were poorly treated on their return, no accommodation, no reception, and they had to find their own treatment. My own grandfather was also a Master on cargo ships, he was on the Russian and some Asian convoys. I still have his logs marked simply OHMS, and his gunnery certificate, with handwritten notes on leading the guns for different plane types, Ju88s, FW190s, etc.. When my grandmother died in 1982, the shipping line (Ellerman) sent a representative to her funeral, they were classy in those days.

[@ericlarsen1920]

Fantastic video - Thank You!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you liked it!

[@jamesross8410]

Excellent presentation of a forgotten part of the war.

[@leno4920]

Very well researched & presented wartime story. Recommended.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thank you very much.

[@leno4920]

@@TheNorthernHistorian I reckon that when you find a channel showing real potential it should be highlighted & encouraged. Def worth a Sub. 😊

[@hazchemel]

Thanks for the good video. It is a great story, and the map shows the vulnerability of the island. Supply runs must have been deadly.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Backwardlooking]

Yes well my father was torpedoed escorting on one Malta convoy from Gibraltar. He served in the Royal Navy and was transferred to the U.S. Navy as communication link with the Home Fleet on Distant cover for Russian convoys.

[@neilgriffiths6427]

Been to Malta, still an amazing place for the British - drive on the left, every other bill-board is advertising "Jones and Smith, plumbing supplies" or "Davies and Davis, builder's merchants". Even had a vote in the 1960's on whether to become an English county, but chose full independence instead (most Maltese RC, so the church firmly behind it). Great place!

[@DJMattEmpathy]

Another interesting video!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks

[@sinclairmarcus]

Great content have subscribed

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Awesome, thank you!

[@robbabcock_]

Good stuff! I'd not heard of this operation and I found it fascinating.🙏👍

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@HighFlight]

Brilliant - well done and thanks!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@geordiedog1749]

Also, the Wildcats were called Martlets by the FAA. Small point. Excellent video btw.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I've never heard them called that, I always knew them as Wildcats. Thanks

[@s208richard8]

There was also the Hal Far flight of Gloster Sea Gladiators, biplanes (!) three of whom later came to be named Faith Hope and Charity, who went up against the Italian Air Force.

[@geordiedog1749]

@@s208richard8 I think there was never just three in reality. If memory serves there were four but they could never get more than three air worthy. I think they were also flown by pilots who were either not even RAF or were not fighter pilots. Volunteers who could fly, basically. Surprised the Gladiator could take off with blokes with balls that big in them!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

@@s208richard8 Yes, I did read about them. Appropriate names don't you think.

[@s208richard8]

@@TheNorthernHistorian I believe there were around six operational planes at various times, and five others that were cannibalised for parts. Their names and the Maltese Cross have been honoured and carried on in the RAF through Phantoms, Tornados and now Typhoons. Wiki has more info. A bit like the Fukushima Fifty, workers at the nuclear power plants, charged with stabilisng the plant under dangerous working conditions, who really numbered 580! Media Spin!

[@nickdanger3802]

Thanks!

[@ronti2492]

Great stuff NH! I'm always looking forward to your videos and continue to encourage you. Thankyou. BTW those pictures on your video show no arrester hooks on the fighter planes flying off the carriers. I'm absolutely no expert but I guess that means it was a one way trip- the fighters could not land back on the carriers if it all went pear shaped?

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks Ron, always good to read your comments. Yes indeed, no hooks! One way trip. That's what made the incident of Pilot Officer Smith landing his back on deck as being brilliant flying skills.

[@Baza1964]

Great story , I read the story of Ohio , it should be a movie made today , Operation Pedestal . Brave young men doing their DUTY for their countries.

[@MrAlwaysBlue]

Cracking work.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Thanks

[@jimattrill8933]

Most of those pictures are not of Spitfire Vs either B or C versions but the later Spitfire IX which has twelve exhaust stacks and not the six of the V. That is the difference between a V and a IX

[@grahamking2239]

Well done

[@Sidneyyoungblood75]

I'm proud to say my grandfather Eric Penney (I think it was the Dorset regiment or Devon & Dorset regiment) was one of the many, great, brave people (soldiers, navy, civilians ++) to stave off the Italians and Nazi's. Thankfully he survived.

[@colinmartin2921]

I don't know how Malta was ever defended from air attack, as Italy is only 50 miles away, so the Axis bombers would be over the island in minutes, giving no time for the defending aircraft to get airborne.

[@dave_h_8742]

Didnt know about "borrowing" USS WASP

[@petersmall8402]

My father was stationed there during the siege I have a diary of life in 1942 together pictures taken on a box brownie makes interesting reading and sights. The island came very close to starvation and at one time it was reported would be invaded similar to Crete. Air recon spotted a amphibious boat in Naples harbour . Days in 1942 an order was made that all planes were hostile being non available to give air cover. Raids were every meal time and at night my father was at saffi strip he lived in the bomb dump as everything had been bombed and flattened. It was reported to have more tonnage dropped on the island than the blitz. The rations included dry biscuits plus the bread weighing scales had an old penny on them to allow for crumbs. Corn beef and sardines was the staple diet. If it was available. He lived to the ripe old age of 98 yrs he deserved it.

[@georgebarnes8163]

Amazing what these people did in Malta when the pressure was on, by contrast the current RN has took over ten years to get a single aircraft carrier on patrol and even then they had to borrow USMC aircraft and crew as well as a handful of RAF aircraft since the RN have no fixed wing aircraft.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

I didn't realise that Britain was currently at war.

[@johnutting9615]

Exs uncle flew in 185 sqn defending Malta survived

[@ronti2492]

PS wow I didn't know the USA loaned you guys the USS Wasp!

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Yes indeed, we were running out of carriers that could fit the Spitfire

[@timphillips9954]

The RN also loaned the USN a carrier after Pearl harbour

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

She wasn't actually 'loaned.' She was a US warship operating with the RN. Victorious subsequently did the same in reverse.

[@jimelliott8931]

the bf110 never outclassed hurricanes

[@redrb26dett]

Fun fact malta asked to join the British empire under the conditions they had the right to leave if they choose to do so which makes there heroism in WW2 more impressive

[@markberesford7107]

Hurricanes were certainly not greatly outclassed by the Me110 or indeed even the Me109 - that is an overstatement. 109's were faster, more modern but a hurri could take punishment, and was more forgiving than the spitfire.

[@geordiedog1749]

Oh, I don’t know - I love Hurricanes but by this stage of the war the new models of BF109s were way better than the hurricanes. You just couldn’t get any more out of the airframe where as the 109s could be improved and indeed were right up to ‘45. This is why the need for Spits was so great. Also, by this stage some of the Daimler engine powered Italian fighters were being used which were also very decent kites when flown by committed pilots. It was the poor buggers in the Fulmars I felt sorry for. Especially the observers with nothing to shoot back with except the occasional Lanchester. My second fave WWII plane the Fulmar.

[@_Braised]

There was a running joke about Hurricanes by 1942 that when they flew in company with heavier aircraft- the Hurricanes weren't the escorts- they were BEING escorted!

[@geordiedog1749]

@@_Braised Ha. That’s mean. The last version with the four Hispano’s was formidable - ish. There’s only so much you can do with an airframe after a while. Still, they won us the Battle of Britain.

[@waynesimpson2074]

JU88 and Bf110 outclassing a Hurricane? Not so sure about that but granted, I'll concede that the 109 would have out-performed the Hurricane... yet as many combat stories have retold; sometimes it is the pilot that makes the biggest difference.

[@BruceK10032]

The visuals often do not match the narration.

[@twotone3070]

Malta had to be kept at all cost, in my not very well edified view it was the key to winning the war.

[@jankutac9753]

Is it even worth it to organize a convoy just for 15 planes?

[@AB-mw8oz]

Malta was one of the most strategically important places in the world during the war, it was vital it did not fall. The Germans and Italians used over 2000 aircraft during the campaign, Britain, just 716, 670 of which had to be ferried to Malta via the Straight of Gibraltar or redirected from the Far east through the Suez Canal

[@jankutac9753]

@@AB-mw8oz I just why didn't they transport at least 50 planes at once or 100

[@kenhanks9620]

Definitely need to do the use of the borrowed US Texaco super-tankers Kentucky (lost on first try) and Ohio in the successful Pedestal Convoy. Without the Ohio fuel the other equipment and supply deliveries would have been useless.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

Hi Ken. You are the 2nd person to suggest SS Ohio. I'm going to research into these tankers and learn the story. Thanks for your comment.

[@timphillips9954]

To say useless Ken would be a huge exaggeration, but I agree the RN did a great job in getting all of those ships to Malta. Thanks for highlighting their efforts.

[@kenhanks9620]

@@timphillips9954 You are right "useless" somewhat extreme but without the fuel supplies Malta's critical naval (submarine) and air offensive capabilities would have been nil making N. Africa much more difficult. The incredibly tenacious efforts of the RAN and merchant marine to get the 4 surviving freighters and the Ohio of the Pedestal Convoy through was a true turning point of the Med Campaign.

[@kenhanks9620]

Correction: Should have been RN (no offense to the RAN.

[@kenhanks9620]

Correction: Should be RN, no offense to the also gallant RAN.

[@the_failed_states]

That big chin filter on the spitfire does not an attractive plane make.

[@alanmoffat4454]

NEW ABOUT THE CANADIAN S NOT THE AMERICAN S MY HISTORY KNOWLEDGE GETS BETTER .

[@raymondyee2008]

Better times for U.S.S Wasp before she was sunk at Guadalcanal.

[@nathanworthington4451]

Narrated by Mrs Doubtfire

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I've never had that comparison before :-)

[@jamesbarca7229]

A few weeks after this happened, the Americans found out that the Japanese were about to attempt an invasion of Midway atoll. Midway was every bit as crucial to the Americans as Malta was to the British. Losing it would put Hawaii within range of Japanese bombers and could very well result in it's loss, which would be a crippling blow in their war against Japan. Knowing that this was going to be _the_ pivotal battle of the war in the Pacific, and being heavily outnumbered with much of their fleet at the bottom of Pearl Harbor, the Americans asked Britain to send just one aircraft carrier to help even the sides. Sadly, the British refused. They never played any meaningful role in the Pacific. In another act of Malta-related comradery...Not long after their invaluable assistance at Midway, the Bits seized the S.S. Ohio (one of the largest oil tankers in the world at the time iirc, and a valuable American asset) as it was delivering a load of crude oil to them. They then sent it on a suicide mission to help save Malta once again. It miraculously made it, but was so badly damaged that she never sailed again. Almost all of the documentaries I've seen about it state that it was an American taker but it wasn't. It was commandeered against it's will (stolen), and was sailing under the British flag.

[@vincentfoxall5704]

I don't know of any American aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean !.So the whole post is irrelevant and wrong.

[@TheNorthernHistorian]

I suggest you read up on USS Wasp then.

[@vincentfoxall5704]

USS Wasp was sunk in 1942 by a Japanese submarine in the Pacific and yes it was an Aircraft carrier but was not in the Mediterranean.

[@cogidubnus1953]

@@vincentfoxall5704 USS Wasp was originally tasked to the Atlantic "neutrality" campaign (indeed playing a supporting role in the American occupation of Iceland in 1941). She served with the British Home Fleet from April 1942. During this time she made two ferry journeys into the Mediterranean, leaving Glasgow on the 14th April and 3rd May. She was posted to the Pacific Fleet in June 1942, took part in the Guadalcanal campaign and was sunk off the Solomons in September 1942

[@nickjoel5288]

A quick search on the internet will show that you are wrong. Or, you could just read “One Man’s Window” by Dennis Barnham who talks about his time on USS Wasp.

[@vincentfoxall5704]

I searched it's history on the internet and know the ship's full service it served in the Atlantic and then went to the Pacific.

[@redwine2664]

Very inaccurate doc. to say the least. Otherwise very close from a British point of view. However the end result justifies the victory through lack of intelligence from the Axis! Rome and the German High Command were in the dark as what the real situation of the garrison and the locals were in. If the German High Command had any wind of how bad supplies were and the fighting spirit of the locals, then there were hadn't any hesitation a similar parachute invasion like that as Crete would have taken place! Why it never took place is still a mystery.

[@noalarms4618]

“Very inaccurate doc. to say the least.” To negatively critique without supporting qualification, is not very useful. To then follow it up, with speculative opinion, dressed up as fact, is even less so.

[@redwine2664]

@@noalarms4618 why were you there jackass?

[@noalarms4618]

@@redwine2664 So who’s the one calling BS with no supporting evidence? That would be you. Who’s offering up un-substantiated opinion as fact? That would be you, again. Finally who’s resorted to the puerile use of playground insults? As you seem to have nothing of any worth to offer, I suggest you stick to playing with yourself.

[@eddiel7635]

Because the invasion of Crete was down to luck and British incompetence rather than a successful airborne strategy and was very close to being a complete disaster. Even though it was successful it was extremely costly and they didn’t want to repeat it. As for the doc being inaccurate, you might want to review what the title is, it’s about the supply of spitfires for the defence of the island not ‘what is the primary reason the axis failed to take Malta’. Maybe have a think before you try and be a smart arse again.

[@BingoFrogstrangler]

Not British incompetence,NZ battalion withdrawing from ridge overlooking Maleme with out informing the rest of the front line.If the NZ troops had attacked when German para’s had first landed and were virtually defeated at the airfield Crete would have a different story by all accounts NZ CO was suffering from ptsd a very sad story,have visited German Fallschirmjager cemetery overlooking airfield also a sad place ,visited place while in Crete .