Malta 42/43

Dave Cheeseman · **Joined:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 7:49 pm **Posts:** 171

More of Jerry's images from his 7 month tour in Malta

Halfar airdrome 185 SQD. Spitfire MKVc

Spitfire MKVc fitted with 2 250LB bombs, note the aircraft pens were fuel cans filled with sand to help protect the planes from enemy bombing.

Jerry in his Spitfire.

Jerry checking out what is left of his Spitfire after a bombing raid.

Jerry and Al Laing ( Canadian )

Jerry infront of the 185 SQD. HQ note the damage to the building.

Today is Jerry's 88th birthday

Cheers Dave C

tom d. friedman · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:07 pm

great stuff from a very overlooked area of ww 2!!!

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:55 pm

Great Pics! I'll admit I don't know a lot about the minutia of Spitfire variants, but I don't think I've ever seen a cannon-armed Spit with a skinny-blade metal prop.

SN

makin' boost · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:30 pm

Happy Birthday Jerry, here's to many more,

Cheers,

Woody

PS, the old Norton bike is pretty cool .................

Mgawa · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:45 pm

Images from Malta are very interesting! They have hard days there

Thanks for sharing

The Inspector · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:26 am

I agree with Tom, the Med and Malta battles have been the stepchilds stepchild. Many years ago a modellers magazine named MODELWORLD INTERNATIONAL in Valletta, Malta published several slim volumes about the antagonists in and above Malta, Allied, Italian, and German, the aircraft types used and especially camoflage and markings used featuring beautiful artwork by Richard Caruanda. (Italian STUKAS)
I'll bet that the skinny bladed SPIT must have been fun to fly dragging that Volks filter and belly tank around-
MORE! GIVE ME MORE!!!!

Mgawa · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:39 am

Yes- I would like to see more. Last year I was engaged about the book and book is about the Malta. I allready made some number of profiles and this images would be definitely helpful.

Cheers

Holedigger · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:26 am

The RAF and the RN played as much or MORE of a role in the defeat of Rommel than Montgomery, and he got all the credit! Due to their efforts, he gained a 2:1 or 3:1 advantage in most everything. It was a strategical blunder for Germany not to take Malta, and it was a grueling slug-fest over the skies of Malta, usually quite outnumbered, that kept the wolves at bay.

More pics please if you have more.

lmritger · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:22 am

Holedigger wrote:

It was a strategical blunder for Germany not to take Malta, and it was a grueling slug-fest over the skies of Malta, usually quite outnumbered, that kept the wolves at bay.

Had Hitler and Goering actually listened to the advice of his commanders on the ground, Malta would have been finished by July 1941 at the latest. Joachim Muencheberg's 7./JG 26 absolutely annihilated the RAF and RN aerial component AND their reinforcements through May and June 1941, accomplishing something no other aerial unit in history has ever accomplished... they established complete air dominance over the battlefield with zero losses. Malta was only granted respite when 7./JG 26 was sent south to North Africa; subsequent Jagdwaffe units did not have the same bold leaders and skillful pilots, and the RAF and RN were eventually able to gain the upper hand.

Lynn

Zachary · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:34 am

Has Jerry ever been interviewed about his WWII experiences, or written any of them down? It would be a shame to lose those memories to history someday down the road if he hasn't...

Zack

Holedigger · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:36 am

Rommel even looked at putting together his own strike force and taking Malta out since they were such a pain in his side and High Command was incapable of doing it!! Of course, he was always short of everything and getting the Italian and German navies to co-operate would have been a nightmare! Always the back-water, Hitler was busy with Russia!

PeterA · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:30 am

Zachary wrote:

Has Jerry ever been interviewed about his WWII experiences, or written any of them down? It would be a shame to lose those memories to history someday down the road if he hasn't...

Zack

Happy birthday Jerry.

I first met Jerry in the early 1970's when he was with Don Plumb/TE308 in Windsor.

There was always a prank in the planning or being expedited.

I flew with him on a few occasions. An extremely fine pilot.

PeterA

Zachary · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:36 am

Thanks for posting that Peter! Looks like one I'll have to add to my library.

Zack

The Inspector · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:02 pm

OOPS! I misidentified the Maltese magazines name last night, it was ModelAid International (slap me..........please)

Thats why I don't try to pass myself off as an 'EXPERT' I learned years ago that EXPERT is a to part word....................
An EX is a has been
and a SPURT is a drip under pressure :ouch:

Old SAR pilot · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:14 pm

Super pics, Dave!

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Malta 42/43

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