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

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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.