Dick Davenport Dives into Siege of Malta Display

Several years ago my wife and I had the privilege of spending a week in the island nation of Malta. Located half way between the Strait of Gibraltar and the Levant, half way between Italy and North Africa, Malta has played a critical role in every empire since the Phoenicians.

I discovered this was no less true during WWII. As the Axis powers were trying to supply their forces in Libya, Tunisia and Algeria, Malta and its resident Allied forces stuck like a rock in the craw. Initially, Italian Regia Aeronautica forces tried to bomb Malta out of existence. Though badly pummeled, the British RAF managed to hold them off with three small Gloster Sea Gladiators that earned the nicknames “Faith”, “Hope” and “Charity”. The fuselage of one of the three is currently in the National War Museum of Valletta, Malta.

The Italians called in help from the Luftwaffe. The British, who’d pretty much ignored their colony ‘till then, decided they needed to send support. Convoys from Gibraltar and Egypt brought aircraft, ammunition, fuel and food to the defenders. From June 1940 to November 1942, numerous heroic air and sea battles took place over and around Malta. When Axis forces left Africa, Malta finally had respite.

In recognition of their critical role in the Mediterranean and the horrendous suffering they endured, King George VI awarded the entire nation the George Cross, the highest honor for non-operational gallantry. This symbol is incorporated in the nation’s flag.

Learning this got me started on researching and recreating aircraft involved in the Siege of Malta. I currently have fifteen British, Italian and German fighters, bombers and torpedo bombers in my display. I’ll share more photos and information in future issues.

You can learn more at:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Malta_(World_War_II)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Award_of_the_George_Cross_to_Malta

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnBpU4MipwM – with documentary footage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZNFOqZ_bE8&t=23s – also dramatic documentary