Group Build: Biplane - barnstormer to fighter

[Glenn S]

It comes with Charity decals... Thought a bit about making Faith decals, but I've not had great success in the past. I'm happy to do Charity, part of the famous trio, defenders of Malta!

The defenders of Malta...
There is a Spit Mk V out there with a Buzz that is calling me to build it.

 

[Edbert]

The defenders of Malta...
There is a Spit Mk V out there with a Buzz that is calling me to build it.

I admit my knowledge is sketchy, but were not all of the (few) Spitfires they had ferried over from a single carrier in the far Western Mediteranian?

 

[Bear43]

A little progress. Time has been at a premium the last few days, but I had some to spare tonight. Still have to put the exhaust stubs on the engine but it fits well in the cowl at this point.

 

[BarleyBop]

I admit my knowledge is sketchy, but were not all of the (few) Spitfires they had ferried over from a single carrier in the far Western Mediteranian?

According to the chronology in this interesting book:

There were quite a few delivered.
But the combined Axis bombing campaigns on Malta took its toll.

1942

• 7 March First 15 Spitfires arrive on Malta; a further nine arrive on 21 March.
• 1 April Despite reinforcements of ten Hurricanes from North Africa on 27 March and another nine Spitfires on 29 March the RAF is reduced to a handful of operational fighters.
• 21 April 46 more Spitfires arrive, flown off HMS Eagle and USS Wasp.
• 9 May With the RAF nearly crippled by airfield bombing, 60 more Spitfires arrive off HMS Eagle and USS Wasp.
• November With Rommel's defeat at El Alamein and the Allies' Torch landings, the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica send most of their remaining forces in Sicily to North Africa.