Battle over Malta: Aircraft Losses & Crash Sites 1940-42 [Paperback]

Anthony Rogers (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 075092392X | ISBN-13: 978-0750923927 | Publication Date: May 2000 | Edition: illustrated edition

From 1940 to 1942, supremacy of the skies above Malta was bitterly fought over by aircraft of the RAF, Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica. The RAF eventaully gained the upper hand, but not before the loss of hundreds of aircraft on all sides. The desperate air battles have since passed into legend - not only on the island itself, but further afield. Although the exploits of three RAF Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters named "Faith", "Hope" and "Charity" came to epitomize this epic struggle, the reality is that many more aircraft fought - and were lost - in the battle over Malta. The author of this book has research the background to every one of the crashes on the island: over 100 aircraft were shot down onto Malta. he pinpoints their exact locations, interviewing witnesses and aircrew who survived the experience, to provide a detailed record of British, German and Italian aircraft losses and crash sites on Malta between 1940 and 1942. Apart from this record of who, what, where and when, the author's detailed descriptions are intended to offer a series of narrative "snapeshots" revealing just how bitter the battle for Malta actually was.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Anthony Rogers grew up in Malta and, in the mid 1970s, served there in the Royal Marines Commandos. He continued to use the island as a base while working in the oil industry until recession, and an interest in the media, led to a new career as a photojournalist. He maintains links with Malta through visits and his membership of various associations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Sutton Pub Ltd; illustrated edition edition (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075092392X
• ISBN-13: 978-0750923927
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,164,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Charting Malta's Air Battles!, June 19, 2009

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Battle over Malta: Aircraft Losses & Crash Sites 1940-42 (Paperback)

Malta was absolutely essential to the ultimate Allied victory in the MTO. The air attacks endured by that tiny British outpost were amongst the heaviest of the war. Malta native Anthony Rogers provides a unique perspective to the 1940-42 air battles in this fascinating 2000 release from England's Sutton Publishing.

Over 1,000 Allied and Axis aircraft were lost in the fight for Malta. Rogers concentrated on the 184 British, Italian and German aircraft that crashed on or very near the island. After much in-depth research, he was able to not only pinpoint the crash sites of 125 of these losses but also recreate what led to the loss. Thus BATTLE OVER MALTA is part history, part archeology. Interestingly enough, some fairly famous pilots - 'Screwball' Beurling, 'Timber' Woods, Gunther von Maltzahn, 'Laddie' Lucas and Joachim Muncheberg - were involved in some of the shootdowns.

Rogers does a first-rate job of reconstructing those air battles, interweaving information from official sources, combat reports and personal reminscences from airmen and civilians alike. Over 30 vintage photographs depict some of the crash scenes, opposing airmen and aircraft, etc.

All in all, BATTLE OVER MALTA offers a fascinating, up-close-and-personal portrait of some life-and-death combats fought over one of the most important pieces of Britsh real estate during World War II. Highly recommended.