Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
In this episode, we continue the story of the battle for Malta — one of the most dramatic air campaigns of World War II. After the fierce Illustrious Blitz, the island’s defenders briefly regained their strength. Reinforced with Hurricanes, Wellingtons, and Gladiators, the RAF stood ready for the next wave. But in February 1941, everything changed.
The Luftwaffe’s elite 7./JG 26 unit arrived in Sicily, bringing the feared Messerschmitt Bf 109E to the skies over Malta. This small but deadly formation would shatter the fragile balance that had favored the British defenders. For the first time, RAF Hurricanes faced opponents with superior speed, climb, and firepower.
In this video, we recount those pivotal first encounters — from Flight Lieutenant James MacLachlan’s daring night intercepts to the tragic loss of Gerald Watson’s flight when Bf 109s struck with devastating speed. Through eyewitness accounts, mission reports, and combat analysis, we explore how the arrival of the Messerschmitts marked the beginning of Malta’s darkest days.
Watch earlier Malta episodes if you missed them:
youtu.be/tz6y-uU_fvo
youtu.be/kZ6FqESC3VA
youtu.be/Vc7oMs9uvNM
Main sources:
- Ryan K. Noppen - Malta 1940–42: The Axis' air battle for Mediterranean supremacy
amzn.to/3MB7JTQ
- Brian Cull - HURRICANES OVER MALTA: June 1940 - April 1942
amzn.to/41SyS94
- Christopher Shores & Brian Cull - Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-1941
amzn.to/3MfZEpU
- Air Battle of Malta: Aircraft Losses and Crash Sites, 1940–1942
amzn.to/49meXFh
- Malta 1940–42: The Axis' air battle for Mediterranean supremacy
amzn.to/3YqoGp3
When you purchase these books on Amazon through the links in this description, the channel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. The proceeds help fund new book purchases and support the creation of future videos.
Support the channel on Patreon:
patreon.com/showtime112
Donate via Paypal:
paypal.com/paypalme/showtime112
Join our Discord server:
discord.gg/c56q7tUNCP
"Interloper" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
#militaryaviationhistory #militaryaviation
In this episode, we continue the story of the battle for Malta — one of the most dramatic air campaigns of World War II. After the fierce Illustrious Blitz, the island’s defenders briefly regained their strength. Reinforced with Hurricanes, Wellingtons, and Gladiators, the RAF stood ready for the next wave. But in February 1941, everything changed.
The Luftwaffe’s elite 7./JG 26 unit arrived in Sicily, bringing the feared Messerschmitt Bf 109E to the skies over Malta. This small but deadly formation would shatter the fragile balance that had favored the British defenders. For the first time, RAF Hurricanes faced opponents with superior speed, climb, and firepower.
In this video, we recount those pivotal first encounters — from Flight Lieutenant James MacLachlan’s daring night intercepts to the tragic loss of Gerald Watson’s flight when Bf 109s struck with devastating speed. Through eyewitness accounts, mission reports, and combat analysis, we explore how the arrival of the Messerschmitts marked the beginning of Malta’s darkest days.
Watch earlier Malta episodes if you missed them:
youtu.be/tz6y-uU_fvo
youtu.be/kZ6FqESC3VA
youtu.be/Vc7oMs9uvNM
Main sources:
- Ryan K. Noppen - Malta 1940–42: The Axis' air battle for Mediterranean supremacy
amzn.to/3MB7JTQ
- Brian Cull - HURRICANES OVER MALTA: June 1940 - April 1942
amzn.to/41SyS94
- Christopher Shores & Brian Cull - Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-1941
amzn.to/3MfZEpU
- Air Battle of Malta: Aircraft Losses and Crash Sites, 1940–1942
amzn.to/49meXFh
- Malta 1940–42: The Axis' air battle for Mediterranean supremacy
amzn.to/3YqoGp3
When you purchase these books on Amazon through the links in this description, the channel earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. The proceeds help fund new book purchases and support the creation of future videos.
Support the channel on Patreon:
patreon.com/showtime112
Donate via Paypal:
paypal.com/paypalme/showtime112
Join our Discord server:
discord.gg/c56q7tUNCP
"Interloper" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
#militaryaviationhistory #militaryaviation
