| Air Headquarters Malta | |
|---|---|
| Active | 28 December 1941- 30 June 1968 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Royal Air Force |
| Type | Command |
| Royal Air Force Ensign | |
AHQ Malta (Air Headquarters Malta or Air H.Q. Malta) was an overseas command of the Royal Air Force (RAF) established on December 28, 1941 by renaming RAF Mediterranean under Air Vice Marshal Hugh Lloyd.[1]
Initially blockaded by the Axis, Malta was not much of an offensive threat early in the North African Campaign, but was considered an essential Allied stronghold as exemplified by Operation Pedestal and the eventual assignment of Keith Park to defend the island.
On April 20, 1942, the USS Wasp delivered 47 Spitfires to Malta and the German Luftwaffe promptly destroyed 30 of them on the same day. Nonetheless, as these and other aircraft reached the island during the summer of 1942, the defensive and offensive capabilities of AHQ Malta were significantly fortified.[2] On July 1, 1942, AHQ Malta had approximately 200 aircraft, about half of which were Spitfires.[3] Air Vice Marshal Sir Keith Park took over command of AHQ Malta On July 15, 1942.[4]
At this time, the island provided critical operational air bases for the Allies with proximity to Axis shipping lanes and the battlefields of Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Pantelleria, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and mainland Italy during World War II. There were three main airfields on Malta known as RAF Hal Far, RAF Luqa, and RAF Ta' Kali with an intermediate landing area known as the Safi Dispersal Strip.[5]
During the month of October, 1942 when the Second Battle of El Alamein was being waged, Allied forces were credited with the destruction of 59% of the German tonnage and 45% of the Italian tonnage shipped to Rommel's Axis forces in North Africa. In large part the result of AHQ Malta and the British and American heavy bombers of No. 205 Group, this attrition was a significant aspect of Rommel's defeat.[6]
In February 1943, AHQ Malta became a major sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command (MAC) established at the Casablanca Conference in January. The Northwest African Air Forces and Middle East Command were the other major sub-commands of MAC.[7]
When the Allies invaded Sicily (Operation Husky) on July 10, 1943, AHQ Malta consisted of the units indicated below.[8]
| No. 248 Wing RAF | Spitfire units | Other units |
|---|---|---|
| No. 69 Squadron RAF Martin Baltimore | No. 40 Squadron SAAF[9] | No. 23 Squadron RAF, de Havilland Mosquito |
| No. 108 Squadron RAF, Bristol Beaufighter | No. 126 Squadron RAF | No. 73 Squadron RAF Det., Hurricane |
| No. 221 Squadron RAF, Vickers Wellington | No. 185 Squadron RAF | No. 256 Squadron RAF Det., Mosquito |
| No. 272 Squadron RAF, Beaufighter | No. 229 Squadron RAF | No. 600 Squadron RAF, Beaufighter |
| No. 683 Squadron RAF, Spitfire | No. 249 Squadron RAF | 815 Naval Air Squadron Det. (FAA), Fairey Albacore |
| 826 Naval Air Squadron (FAA) | No. 1435 Flight RAF | No. 983 Balloon Squadron |
Notes: SAAF=South African Air Force; Det.=Detachment. Some other squadrons and flights from the Northwest African Tactical and Coastal Air Forces were detached to Malta prior to the invasion of Sicily including Nos. 92 and 93 Squadrons with Spitfires.
Some famous Aces stationed on Malta were Rhodesian Johnny Plagis and the Canadian fighter pilots George "Screwball" Beurling and Wally McLeod.[10]
Air Vice Marshal R. M. Foster took over command of AHQ Malta on March 26, 1944 and Air Vice Marshal K. B. Lloyd took over on October 19, 1944, commanding through the remainder of World War II and into June 1947. AHQ Malta had ten other commanders until it was disbanded on June 30, 1968 and its units were absorbed by Air Commander Malta.