The R.A.F's fighter defence aircraft saving Malta

[helmitsmit]

I was wondering how did the RAF's aircraft compare as fighters to their opponents over Malta?

How did the Sea Gladiators do so well? How come they weren't shot out of the sky?

How did the Hurricane mk 1 do against the Macchi 200 and 202 and Me 109 E/F? What was it's strengths and weaknesses and how did it servive? Did the cannon mk 2 change things?

When the Spitfire mk V came along did they kick arse like everyone on Malta expected? How did they compare?

Basically, I am reading "A band of Eagles" and it is set in Malta with those RAF Pilots. That got me interested!

[Jerry W. Loper]

Originally Posted by helmitsmit

I was wondering how did the RAF's aircraft compare as fighters to their opponents over Malta?

How did the Sea Gladiators do so well? How come they weren't shot out of the sky?

How did the Hurricane mk 1 do against the Macchi 200 and 202 and Me 109 E/F? What was it's strengths and weaknesses and how did it servive? Did the cannon mk 2 change things?

When the Spitfire mk V came along did they kick arse like everyone on Malta expected? How did they compare?

Basically, I am reading "A band of Eagles" and it is set in Malta with those RAF Pilots. That got me interested!

...based on what I know of the aircraft:

(1) the Gladiators did well against Italian bombers and maybe Italian biplane fighters but would have been outclassed by modern monoplane fighters; (2) the Hurricane Mk. I would have been superior to the Macchi MC-200, and with a competent pilot would have been able to handle the Me-109E, but would have been outclassed by the MC-202 and the Me-109F, and (3) the Spitfire Mk. V would have been roughly equal to the Me-109F and MC-202 and would have outclassed all the other Axis fighters mentioned.

[helmitsmit]

yet thegladiators shot down lots of fighters too. And I thought the hurricanes were equal to the Machi 200 because of the volkes filter certainly no better.

[Njaco]

One equation that I believe made the difference - very dedicated RAF pilots!

[helmitsmit]

Yeah true. I think this was a greater achievement the BoB! Because short supplies much more out numbered and bigger apparent disadvantage of aircraft performance fighter-fighter.

[merlin]

You mustn't forget the Commanders too!

With his success in Malta it made the score:

Park Two - Kesselring Nil

[Célérité]

It's not very famous but Malta was an important air battle.I invite you to read George Beurling if you don't know him. He was an hero of the battle of Malta.

[Watanbe]

Originally Posted by Célérité

It's not very famous but Malta was an important air battle.I invite you to read George Beurling if you don't know him. He was an hero of the battle of Malta.

I have always found Beurling to be an interesting and strange character! He was certaintly a brilliant ace with nerves of steel, but was despised by his fellow comrades. His disregard for his own safety and that of his formation made him an unpopular figure.

[pbfoot]

Originally Posted by Watanbe

I have always found Beurling to be an interesting and strange character! He was certaintly a brilliant ace with nerves of steel, but was despised by his fellow comrades. His disregard for his own safety and that of his formation made him an unpopular figure.

popular myth Buerling was more comfortable in the company of the guys who maintained the aircraft he maintained his own weapons this irked the the RAF types as it wasn't done. He did not drink nor smoke these things alone made him different then 99.9% of other aircrew . He was well respected by his fellow pilots and was eager to teach them the art of deflection shooting . He did not respect authority
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/sto...tml#post267704 (George "Buzz" Beurling, leading Canadian Ace)

[peter benn]

Regarding Hurricanes and Spitfires at Malta, three very good scholarly hardcovers are "Malta: the Hurricane Years" (Shores/Cull), "Malta: the Spitfire Year" (Shores/Cull), and "249 At War" (Cull).

Most economically bought used on sites like abebooks, etc., these resources enable you to pinpoint the scrambles on a certain day and often by the clock (the two "Malta" volumes deal with all squadrons on the island), and see all the combat claims for 249 chronologically, with aircraft i.d.'s (249 At War).

A bonus is that the bibliographies in these volumes list just about every other important book on Malta.

[kool kitty89]

Also performance of the Gladiators would be improved as many had been refitted with 3-blade variable-pitch props and with 100 octane gasoline the Mercury could make nearly 1000 hp up to ~9,000 ft.