THE OCTOBER BLITZ

11th

Altogether we have had 7 warnings. A.A guns searchlights were in action.

07.30 the warning went. A few mins later 3 bombers and dozens of according to the O.P. 3 E.A were shot down. At 10.50

93 The three surviving Wigmore, Crow and HSL 128. For more information about this and other rescues, see Call-Out - A wartime diary of air/sea rescue operations at Malta by Frederick Galea, Malta: Bieb Bieb, 2002.

Plans of German air attacks on Luqa 9-10 October 1942, NWM.HMC

At 12.00 another raid was engaged them and a bomber drome as a result of this action.

Soon after dark (18.00 lasted over an hour. The enemy bombers came in in twos and threes at intervals of about 5 mins. Many bombs hit the drome and dispersal

A.A guns were in action and several bombers were caught in the searchlights. Showers of explosive incendiaries were dropped. Reviewing the day’s attacks, it seems as if Jerry has returned to Sicily and has decided to give us a tough time. I only hope my nerves will stand up to it.

My stomach has given me much trouble today, and I am feeling ill. -. – During the night there were continuous raids. Hundreds of heavy bombs and incendiaries were dropped at scattered points. Flares were used and it seemed like day. a/c destroyed, 24 damaged.

This morning at 06.30 7 Ju88s attacked Luqa. Paddy, Miller, Dibden and myself did not have time to get to a shelter. We watched the bombs leave the kites, and knew they would fall close to us. They did! Shrapnel whistled riddled. A few minutes later 5 more Ju88s

Luqa. All clear went 07.00. At 09.45 Luqa was again attacked. Bombs fell on Siggiewi dispersal. A few mins later 6 Ju88s bombed T.K. Spits were up and engaged them. An M.E and a Ju88 came screaming down, out of control. The pilot of the M.E baled out. At 11.30 warning went but no raid materialized.

During this afternoon several formations of bombers have approached the island. Each time Spits engaged them. Up to 16.00 hrs 15 E.A have been shot down.

At 18.00 warning went. It was just getting dark and a slight storm was over the island. Half an hour later the storm had passed over the island and in came the enemy bombers. A.A guns blazed away as the raiders dived on Luqa, dropping many bombs. Searchlights picked up several of the raiders and Bofor guns went into action. Beaus were airborne and succeeded in destroying one of the The rest of night was of continuous attacks which got so bad I took my bed in a shelter.

Over the past 24 hrs 24 E.A have been destroyed and 41 damaged.

13.10, when Ju88s with

At 16.50 another raid was made on the island. 7 Ju88s and M.Es came in from the

15th

21.15 a scattered area. After this raid the night was is 23 certs.

07.00 waiting for the fun to start. 07.50 with their noses down. Bombs have left, and like little terriers.

07:40

Following this raid there was two warnings, but no bombers got in.

At 16.30 16th 07:00 At 07.15

07.45

After this raid there were two more warnings, but no bombers came in.

At 10.25 them. Could not see results. 16.30 6 Ju88s got over the island and bombed best actions I have witnessed. 2 88s came During the night there was two slight raids. A.A guns were in action.

17th 07:10 we saw several bombers coming in their work. All clear 07.30 were two warnings following this raid but no raids materialized.

At 12.30 went. At the same time 4 B.C. M.Es bombed 13.15.

A warning went at 17.30, and several 18.00 18.30 bombs around the drome. A.A guns and lights were in action. A.A

19.00

‘The Last of the Barnwells.’ In memory of 19-year old Pilot

DFC RAF, killed in action over Malta in October 1942, and of his two brothers, also killed serving with the RAF, and their father, designer of the Blenheim and the Beaufort, killed while testing a new aircraft. ‘They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old’, BJb.NWM.HMC

06.45 hide and seek with the M.Es.

High clouds. Sunshine. 23rd ops

Just after 07.00 24th

25th buggered about with so much before.

10:30 drome when M.Es came in low 12.30 afternoon Dibden, Stan Evans and moved into Poorhouse. was one alert. No raid. some success.

You never know when a M.E will dive down.

Our bread ration has again been reduced.

94 Probably ‘zejt’, Maltese word for cooking oil.

95 meaning goodbye.

31st at all now. All our Beaus have gone to M.E

95 It has

3rd

1942

14.00 our machines until 16.00. Stand down until 07.30 tommorrow. Grub 10th

Nothing doing in morning. In afternoon

13th

On returning 2 Beaus crashed. One Beau

14th not returned. No lights in billet at night. Got

15th island at one time. A N.F. Beau went out to crashed into sea. No lights in billet.

16th in A.M 02.30. Got wet until 07.30 tommorrow. made to locate the crews of the 3 Beaus.

24th treat us like a lot of dogs. this is not the beginning of another blitz. It started at this time last

25th

3 ½ miles.

26th we got a billet after some messing about.

27th good grub. Bought a lot of tea and

28th to Mosta. took it to Air Vice Marshall Park.

29th

30th was 1 sausage. However, this cook seems all out

1942 and mending. some trouble. Several big Merchant Vessels arrived in the Grand

Had a smashing meal. I feel grand after it.

A.A guns were in action.

8th most of day. Won a bit. Rained slightly in afternoon. Left drome 16.30. Food today has not been much.

Had some bad news from Peterboro’. Win dangerously ill.

Stayed in billet at night and wrote to Milly. Turned in 20.00.

9th dinner on the drome was disgusting. reason.

10th

Our Beaus have been out and made

I’m starving. I went out this evening caused it. about waiting for the bus to come and bring us back to Mosta. Our NCO blue to go out in but a civilian lent us two suits. He said we could

96 The “dog” – severe gastroenteritis, either borne, and viral or bacterial in origin, causing debilitating vomiting and diarrhoea. Very common under siege conditions, hence the euphemism ‘Malta Dog’.

25th