The Malta Beauforts

Since the mission of the 21st, momentous events had been transpiring on Malta. The depleted 217 Squadron had been preparing to continue their transit flight to Ceylon, even going so far as fitting long rang tanks to their aircraft, when on the 22nd, AOC Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Lloyd gave them the word that, they would remain on Malta until further notice.. Later the shanghaied squadron received a welcome boost when SL Pat Gibbs returned with five fresh Mark IIA Beauforts of 39 Squadrons B Flight, having transited from LG.05 only hours before the advanced airfield was abandoned in the face of the advance of Rommels Afrika Korps.

At the same time, Wellington bombers staged into Malta carrying enough torpedoes for the Beauforts. This, coupled with the replenished petrol stocks from the recent convoy, would allow Malta to sustain offensive operations for the immediate future.

The pre-dawn darkness saw 69 Squadrons daily reconnaissance flights depart. At 0730, a PRU Spitfire reported a convoy consisting of two cargo vessels and four escorts departing Palermo. This was the same convoy that had sheltered their after the mission on 20 June, and was composed of the Italian motorships Nino Bixio (7,137 BRT) and Mario Roselli (6,835 BRT), escorted by DD Turbine, TB Castore, DE Pegaso and DE Orsa. When sighted, the cargo ships were in a line abreast with an escort positioned well ahead and well abeam of each. A striking force of 12 Beauforts was readied, seven from 217 and five from 39, flying in four sub-flights led by WC W. A. L. Davies and FO Sangster of 217 and SL R. P. M. Gibbs DFC+bar and FL A. T. Leaning of 39, as well as a Beaufighter escort from 235 Squadron, six as close escort and six as top cover, though the leader, WC H. J. Garlick, had to abort early on. The formation departed at 0935.

Carefully considering the ramifications of the loose formation, Gibbs proposed that, instead of heading out in front of the convoy and then turning to attack from the ahead, the formation approach from astern, split, fly up inside the Italian formation between the wing escorts and the targets, and then turn to make the run in from abeam.

In the event, when sighted it was readily apparent that the wing escorts had closed considerably, within a mile, forcing the two attacking formations to approach from astern just outside the escorts, and then turn and overfly them as they made the run in. This exposed the Beauforts to a considerable volume of flak for a substantial portion of the approach.  Hardly incompetent, the Italians made gave the attackers a rough ride, particularly the three vics that approached from port side, hitting both 39 Squadron section leaders, Gibbs and Leaning, and knocking down two of their wingmen. While FO T. H. Gardinier and his navigator, Sgt. E. Mullin survived the demise of DD976 to be taken PoW by one of the escorts, his two gunners as well as the entire crew of W6518 (Sgt. B. Guy pilot) perished. One other Beaufort, L9802, was hit as well badly wounding the pilot, Sgt. C. J. Nolan in the leg, but he gamely flew his crippled machine back and bellied her in at Luqa. In spite of the impressive flak barrage, the attackers aim was good, one torpedo hit Mario Roselli in her bows, necessitating the convoys return to Taranto with her under tow. The rest of the attackers made Malta safely, though two other Beauforts, including Gibbs, were written off in crash landings.