Spitfire MKVs in Malta

Hi all, I was doing some research today on MKV spits in Malta. Do any of you clever people on here know if they were launched off of carriers using a catapult ? If so were the airframes strenghtened ?

Cheers Steve.

Perhaps they were hidden underground :p

Thanks MK12 book dispatched today (monday)
Paul

Hi Paul

Your book arrived in the mail yesterday and I have just been marvelling it ever since. She’s a heavy sod, yes, but there’s no doubting the quality. I had also been wondering how you turned the original, slim Brennan/Hesselyn into a 300+ page book but now I know. The added context and biographical details that follow the original text are very welcome and, as a bit of a Maltaphile, I’ll be lapping it up. Well done!

Ah! Not the light dusting over of the original then.

Order placed. 🙂

Mark

Great book Paul, pity the cover painting is not one of the artist’s best.

The town below the Spitfire’s nose (Senglea) was a mass of rubble by early 1942 while it has been painted as it is today, including the new church that is completely different from the one destroyed during the Siege.

In my book (Apologies for shameless plug)http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paul-Brennen-Hesselyn-Spitfires-Malta/dp/0955364655/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1350989347&sr=1-10

Hi Paul

Your book arrived in the mail yesterday and I have just been marvelling it ever since. She’s a heavy sod, yes, but there’s no doubting the quality. I had also been wondering how you turned the original, slim Brennan/Hesselyn into a 300+ page book but now I know. The added context and biographical details that follow the original text are very welcome and, as a bit of a Maltaphile, I’ll be lapping it up. Well done!

Since you’re interested in Malta Spitfires, researching the name George “Screwball” Beurling may prove enlightening.

He featured in Episode 2 of this current series.

http://www.channel5.com/shows/heroes-of-the-skies/episodes

Another good reference source for information is the guys at the malta aviation museum Ray Polidano and Frederick Galea.The latter has been involved with many books on the subject of Malta and its air battles and the aircraft and is one of the most knowledgeable people on the subject.

Mike E
www.aircraftrestorationgroup.org

Operation Spotter Spitfires to Malta

In my book (Apologies for shameless plug) there is a copy of Flt/Lt Philip Heppell’s Pilot’s Drill for the take off from HMS Eagle to Malta in March 1942.
The flaps are listed as Up, rudder trim fully wound forward, tail trim one and half notches down from central. Pitch fully forward. After take off engine revs were to be reduced to 2400 at +2 boost at 170mph. At 2000 feet the pilots were to change to the additional external fuel tank. Once in formation revs would be 2500, or suffient to fly with the escorting Blenheims that were providing navigation to Malta.
Other details are also included. The sheet of paper the pilots were given finishes on a very patriotic note:

If seperated or lost: On last leg head north. turn east on reaching land (Sicily) Follow coast to eastern most end then set compass to 222 degrees for Malta.
Don’t flap or worry……..There’ll Always Be an England

Paul

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Paul-Brennen-Hesselyn-Spitfires-Malta/dp/0955364655/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1350989347&sr=1-10

channels

The photo in question shows the side channel of frame 9 where it joins the lower fwd longerons, the channel being constructed of 2 zed members & a closing plate with machined fittings at base where it joins longeron.

Steve

Have seen that on a few Spits but on F8.MkV Spit BL628 that Avspecs restored was a “hooked” spitfire and had some different bits and pieces added..Look at the lower firewall side gussets as well.

Thanks MKV & Daz, that confirms what I thought after I’d read Morgan & shacklady. Seems wreckage that I’d seen a photo of came from a seafire also based in Malta. It seems that about 166 MKvb’s were converted to seafires so could this be one of those ! How were they converted ? what was added ?

Cheers Steve.

MB293 ?

Spitfires only have two flap positions – ‘up’ and ‘down’ – hence my reference to the innovative wooden wedge mod. The idea being the flaps would be deployed following take off and the wedges would drop out….

I was sort of referring to that from your earlier post – I think I just didn’t word it right! 😮

Since you’re interested in Malta Spitfires, researching the name George “Screwball” Beurling may prove enlightening.

The photo in question shows the side channel of frame 9 where it joins the lower fwd longerons, the channel being constructed of 2 zed members & a closing plate with machined fittings at base where it joins longeron.

Steve

Thanks MKV & Daz, that confirms what I thought after I’d read Morgan & shacklady. Seems wreckage that I’d seen a photo of came from a seafire also based in Malta. It seems that about 166 MKvb’s were converted to seafires so could this be one of those ! How were they converted ? what was added ?

Cheers Steve.

(with the flaps “set” for take-off)

Spitfires only have two flap positions – ‘up’ and ‘down’ – hence my reference to the innovative wooden wedge mod. The idea being the flaps would be deployed following take off and the wedges would drop out….

I think the throttles were maxed and the brakes held on (with the flaps “set” for take-off) before the pilots let go!

I seem to recall reading that they practically had the tails off the deck when the brakes were released!

Hi all, I was doing some research today on MKV spits in Malta. Do any of you clever people on here know if they were launched off of carriers using a catapult ? If so were the airframes strenghtened ?

Cheers Steve.

No Steve, they took off without a catapult – full stream ahead, in to wind and with the assistance of a bit of flap (wooden wedge ‘mod’ to keep them down about 30 degrees if I remember correctly)!