Description
Object description
A detailed and well-written ts memoir, with some censorship (186pp) written in 1942, entitled 'Malta, Island Fortress', starting when he was a Group Captain, the flight from Ismailia, Egypt, where he was commanding No 80 Squadron, via Sicily, to Malta (July 1940), shortly after Italy entered the war, reporting to AVM Maynard at War Headquarters in Valletta, based in the mediaeval St John's Cavalier, taking over command of RAF Luqa from Squadron Leader 'Jock' Martin, the airfield, a former Imperial Airways aerodrome overlooking Valletta, accommodation and conditions, air raid shelters cut into hills, the poor defences, the small numbers of planes, the early bombing of the island by the Italians, reinforcements of new Hurricanes, first casualties under his command, General Freyburg visiting the airfield, the mental strain of the pilots, creating gardens for relaxing, leisure time, the Union Club and bars, using the Bishop of Gozo's car as his official vehicle, picnics, the base 'farm', his adoption of a pet dog, a trip to Ta Kali aerodrome, concerts by a service concert party 'The Whizz Bangs' (September 1940), night interceptions by fighters, the first bombing by German aircraft, Junkers 87, and being caught in the open, the damage to the airfield, his wife, Gina, joining him from Egypt in a ship with the Governor's daughter (11 October 1940), dinner with the Governor, Lt General Sir William Dobbie, at St Anton Palace, Jonas' high opinion of him, living in a flat in Floriana, having to cancel a leave on Gozo as Wellington bombers were due to arrive at RAF Luqa, the first heavy bomber raid to leave from Malta, problems with the short runway, two planes crashing on take-off, tales of heroism, flying over the island, breaking his tooth, a large air raid on 2 November 1940, the evolution of the airfield, Luqa now becoming a bomber and recce station when the fighters moved to Ta Kali, potential civilian evacuation schemes and invasion provisions, coming down with influenza (December 1940), Christmas and New Year in Malta, wet weather (January 1941), news that German aircraft were on Sicily in increasing numbers, constant bombing of RAF Luqa, the runway remaining serviceable, casualties on both sides, a bomb landing on the Sergeants' quarters, watching the attacks on the aircraft carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS (January 1941), the usual methods of how the German Junkers 87's attacked and the defences, bombs landing in the civilian areas, seeing RAF Luqa being bombed from his flat in Floriana, destruction of the Officers' mess, strain of bombing leading to 'Malta Twitch' among his men, being replaced at Luqa and posting to the Staff in the War Room, at HQ in Valletta, the switch to night-time bombing by the enemy, losing fighters and pilots to Messerschmitts, details of Flight Lieutenant Maclachlan DFC, Sunderland flying boats being easy targets, the Jonas's and their maids leaving their flat in Floriana and moving to St Julians (March 1941), civilians being targeted by night raids and the creation of makeshift shelters, leisure time at Dragonara Palace and the hospitality of the owners, air raids attacking a convoy in March, an Italian flying boat landing at Malta by mistake, Beaufighters arriving in Malta, heavy night raids (April 1941), the new air raid shelters, his duties as Controller in the War Room, the feeling of power by moving thousands of people by switching on the air raid sirens, low morale, visiting a wounded pilot, Mason, in hospital, seeing pilots talking amicably to a wounded Italian pilots who had killed friends of theirs, HQ moving from St John's Cavalier to new underground tunnels, bomb disposal of a bomb near his house, a holiday on Gozo, sightseeing round Malta, the heat in Valletta (July 1941), seeing a Macchi aircraft in a terminal dive into Valletta, a visit to a British submarine in the harbour, Italian E-boats attempting to attack Grand Harbour (26 July 1941), learning he was to be posted back to England, leaving his wife behind, missing friends but not the trapped monotony, the journey in a Sunderland flying boat via Gibraltar, landing in England, the account ending with his wife joining him three months later, with throughout details and anecdotes about people he worked with, swimming, good descriptions of air raids and dog fights including what happened in 'typical' raids, repairing aircraft and working with few replacements, conditions, weather, the detachment of life on Malta from the rest of the war, reconnaissance, types of aircraft used, including a 'Bleariator', a Gladiator and Blenheim hybrid they created from parts, his thoughts about Malta, its people, and its history, 'ghost' stories and superstitions, thoughts on the war and destruction, thoughts about those fighting overhead as he watched, and his belief that dive bombing was more effective than area for psychological reasons if not just accuracy. Together with: a ts covering letter (2pp, 27 May 1942) from the Air Ministry permitting Wing Commander R C Jonas to publish this account; and a photocopy of his obituary from 'The Daily Telegraph' (October 1987).
Content description
A detailed and well-written ts memoir, with some censorship (186pp) written in 1942, entitled 'Malta, Island Fortress', starting when he was a Group Captain, the flight from Ismailia, Egypt, where he was commanding No 80 Squadron, via Sicily, to Malta (July 1940), shortly after Italy entered the war, reporting to AVM Maynard at War Headquarters in Valletta, based in the mediaeval St John's Cavalier, taking over command of RAF Luqa from Squadron Leader 'Jock' Martin, the airfield, a former Imperial Airways aerodrome overlooking Valletta, accommodation and conditions, air raid shelters cut into hills, the poor defences, the small numbers of planes, the early bombing of the island by the Italians, reinforcements of new Hurricanes, first casualties under his command, General Freyburg visiting the airfield, the mental strain of the pilots, creating gardens for relaxing, leisure time, the Union Club and bars, using the Bishop of Gozo's car as his official vehicle, picnics, the base 'farm', his adoption of a pet dog, a trip to Ta Kali aerodrome, concerts by a service concert party 'The Whizz Bangs' (September 1940), night interceptions by fighters, the first bombing by German aircraft, Junkers 87, and being caught in the open, the damage to the airfield, his wife, Gina, joining him from Egypt in a ship with the Governor's daughter (11 October 1940), dinner with the Governor, Lt General Sir William Dobbie, at St Anton Palace, Jonas' high opinion of him, living in a flat in Floriana, having to cancel a leave on Gozo as Wellington bombers were due to arrive at RAF Luqa, the first heavy bomber raid to leave from Malta, problems with the short runway, two planes crashing on take-off, tales of heroism, flying over the island, breaking his tooth, a large air raid on 2 November 1940, the evolution of the airfield, Luqa now becoming a bomber and recce station when the fighters moved to Ta Kali, potential civilian evacuation schemes and invasion provisions, coming down with influenza (December 1940), Christmas and New Year in Malta, wet weather (January 1941), news that German aircraft were on Sicily in increasing numbers, constant bombing of RAF Luqa, the runway remaining serviceable, casualties on both sides, a bomb landing on the Sergeants' quarters, watching the attacks on the aircraft carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS (January 1941), the usual methods of how the German Junkers 87's attacked and the defences, bombs landing in the civilian areas, seeing RAF Luqa being bombed from his flat in Floriana, destruction of the Officers' mess, strain of bombing leading to 'Malta Twitch' among his men, being replaced at Luqa and posting to the Staff in the War Room, at HQ in Valletta, the switch to night-time bombing by the enemy, losing fighters and pilots to Messerschmitts, details of Flight Lieutenant Maclachlan DFC, Sunderland flying boats being easy targets, the Jonas's and their maids leaving their flat in Floriana and moving to St Julians (March 1941), civilians being targeted by night raids and the creation of makeshift shelters, leisure time at Dragonara Palace and the hospitality of the owners, air raids attacking a convoy in March, an Italian flying boat landing at Malta by mistake, Beaufighters arriving in Malta, heavy night raids (April 1941), the new air raid shelters, his duties as Controller in the War Room, the feeling of power by moving thousands of people by switching on the air raid sirens, low morale, visiting a wounded pilot, Mason, in hospital, seeing pilots talking amicably to a wounded Italian pilots who had killed friends of theirs, HQ moving from St John's Cavalier to new underground tunnels, bomb disposal of a bomb near his house, a holiday on Gozo, sightseeing round Malta, the heat in Valletta (July 1941), seeing a Macchi aircraft in a terminal dive into Valletta, a visit to a British submarine in the harbour, Italian E-boats attempting to attack Grand Harbour (26 July 1941), learning he was to be posted back to England, leaving his wife behind, missing friends but not the trapped monotony, the journey in a Sunderland flying boat via Gibraltar, landing in England, the account ending with his wife joining him three months later, with throughout details and anecdotes about people he worked with, swimming, good descriptions of air raids and dog fights including what happened in 'typical' raids, repairing aircraft and working with few replacements, conditions, weather, the detachment of life on Malta from the rest of the war, reconnaissance, types of aircraft used, including a 'Bleariator', a Gladiator and Blenheim hybrid they created from parts, his thoughts about Malta, its people, and its history, 'ghost' stories and superstitions, thoughts on the war and destruction, thoughts about those fighting overhead as he watched, and his belief that dive bombing was more effective than area for psychological reasons if not just accuracy. Together with: a ts covering letter (2pp, 27 May 1942) from the Air Ministry permitting Wing Commander R C Jonas to publish this account; and a photocopy of his obituary from 'The Daily Telegraph' (October 1987).
History note
Cataloguer SJO