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Today, 9th May was the 68th anniversary of Operation Bowery, the second delivery run of Spitfires by USS Wasp along with HMS Eagle. Churchill commented 'Who said a wasp couldn't sting twice'. 64 spitfires took off from the carriers and this time the Island was better prepared to recieve them and make them combat ready and back in the air within 30 mins. The first delivery by USS Wasp back in April was successful in that only one aircraft did not make to Malta, but the axis were ready and in the first 30 mins after landing, 12 aircraft were destroyed on the ground. After a couple of days only a handful remained.
After 9th May came the 10th of May, forever to be known as 'The glorious tenth of May'. The luftwaffe targetted the HMS Welshman which arrived on the 10th with supplies and RAF technicians. That day the Luftwaffe will get more than it had bargained for. They were greeted over the Island by newly delivered spitfires which were in enough number to be considerably felt now, concentrated AAA and a smoke screen. At the end of the day, the Luftwaffe was soundly beaten off, not only the HMS welshman was not sunk but it unloaded its cargo and the Luftwaffe suffered its first major setback in the aerial battle over Malta. The luftwaffe losses were 22 destroyed, 20 probable, 21 damaged and 8 destroyed by the AAA. This was not the end of the luftwaffe operations over the island, but certainly a turning point in the aerial battle over Malta were it could no longer operate over the island with impunity.[justify]
After 9th May came the 10th of May, forever to be known as 'The glorious tenth of May'. The luftwaffe targetted the HMS Welshman which arrived on the 10th with supplies and RAF technicians. That day the Luftwaffe will get more than it had bargained for. They were greeted over the Island by newly delivered spitfires which were in enough number to be considerably felt now, concentrated AAA and a smoke screen. At the end of the day, the Luftwaffe was soundly beaten off, not only the HMS welshman was not sunk but it unloaded its cargo and the Luftwaffe suffered its first major setback in the aerial battle over Malta. The luftwaffe losses were 22 destroyed, 20 probable, 21 damaged and 8 destroyed by the AAA. This was not the end of the luftwaffe operations over the island, but certainly a turning point in the aerial battle over Malta were it could no longer operate over the island with impunity.[justify]
