Aircraft - Axis

In the Spring / Summer of 1942 the Germans had 500 - 600 aircraft based in Sicily along with 350 Regia Aeronautica aircraft.

Wreckage of German JU 88 brought down on Malta at Ta'Kali.
It is possible this aircraft was shot down on the 14th May 1942 by a Spitfire using cannon.
An account is written up in 'The Air Battle for Malta' by Lord James Douglas Hamilton p101.

Same wreck as shown to the left but this photo was kindly sent to me by Chris Rukin whose grandfather served in the RAF on Malta.

Captured Focke-Wulf 190

Wreckage of Me 109 shot down over Luqa, 1942.
Photo courtesy of Louise Dardart.

Wreckage of Me 109.
Photo courtesy of Louise Dardart.

Cant Z506 Italian Torpedo Bomber. This aircraft hit by anti-aircraft fire & forced to land in St. Pauls Bay Malta - unknown date.
Photo courtesy of Paul Lazell

 


Axis aircraft types flown against Malta included:-

Aircraft Type - German
Useful links
Junkers 87 (dive bomber) http://worldatwar.net/chandelle/v3/v3n3/articles/stuka.html
Junkers 88 (bomber)  
Messerschmitt 109F & 109G (fighter)  
Focke Wulf 190 (fighter) http://fw190.hobbyvista.com/Index.html
Dornier DO 24 (seaplane, used in air/sea rescue) http://www.dornier24.com/
http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/h/990/2/0/1
   
Aircraft Type - Italian
Macchi 202 (fighter) http://www.comandosupremo.com/Mc202.html
Reggiane 2001 (fighter) http://www.comandosupremo.com/Re2001.html
Savoia Marchetti SM 84 (bomber) http://www.comandosupremo.com/Sm84.html
Cant Z 1007 (bomber) http://www.comandosupremo.com/Cantz1007.html
Cant Z 506 (seaplane) http://www.regiamarina.net/arsenals/planes_it/idroplanes/idro_us.htm#Cant.Z%20506%20"%20Airone%20"
http://www.comandosupremo.com/Cantz506.html
   
   
   

http://www.comandosupremo.com/Air.html is worthy of special note, containing a wealth of information on Italian campaigns with photos.

German fighter ace Oberfeldwebel Heinrich Leschert

Me 109's were fitted with bombs & first used (as far as I can find in literature) over Malta on the 14th May 1942.

On 29th July 1942 the crew of a Cant Z 506 seaplane was overpowered by allied prisoners & forced to land on the sea off the coast of Malta by Spitfires who fired a warning shot.
The pilot & crew were taken prisoner & the Wellington crew who were prisoners, set free. This aircraft was subsequently used in air/sea rescue operations by the allies.
Look up the full account in 'The Air Battle for Malta' by Lord James Douglas Hamilton.