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Malta Spitfire Pilot: Ten Weeks of Terror, April–June 1942
An RAF fighter pilot’s “intensely vivid” account of the siege of Malta in World War II ( The Times Literary Supplement ).
In the summer of 1942, Malta was vulnerable to air attack from the Germans and Italians, and defended by a handful of Spitfires and a few anti-aircraft guns. Denis Barnham, a young and inexperienced flight lieutenant, spent ten hectic weeks on this indomitable island; he left a well-ordered English aerodrome for the chaos and disillusionment of Luqa. His task was to engage the overwhelming number of enemy bombers, usually protected by fighter escorts, and shoot down as many as possible.
The Spitfires were bomb-scarred and battered. Oftentimes they could only get two or three in the air together, and the airfields were riddled with bomb craters, but they managed to keep going and make their mark on enemy operations. Barnham has written a powerful account of his experiences in Malta, starting with his trip in an American aircraft carrier through the ceaseless battle and turmoil during the desperate defense of the island, through his departure by air back to England, having seen the reinforcements safely landed and the tide of battle turning.
With thrilling and terrifying descriptions and illustrations of the air action, this account, told with humor and compassion, is one of the best firsthand accounts of aerial combat ever written.
In the summer of 1942, Malta was vulnerable to air attack from the Germans and Italians, and defended by a handful of Spitfires and a few anti-aircraft guns. Denis Barnham, a young and inexperienced flight lieutenant, spent ten hectic weeks on this indomitable island; he left a well-ordered English aerodrome for the chaos and disillusionment of Luqa. His task was to engage the overwhelming number of enemy bombers, usually protected by fighter escorts, and shoot down as many as possible.
The Spitfires were bomb-scarred and battered. Oftentimes they could only get two or three in the air together, and the airfields were riddled with bomb craters, but they managed to keep going and make their mark on enemy operations. Barnham has written a powerful account of his experiences in Malta, starting with his trip in an American aircraft carrier through the ceaseless battle and turmoil during the desperate defense of the island, through his departure by air back to England, having seen the reinforcements safely landed and the tide of battle turning.
With thrilling and terrifying descriptions and illustrations of the air action, this account, told with humor and compassion, is one of the best firsthand accounts of aerial combat ever written.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1956
47 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Denis Barnham
2 books8 followersDenis Barnham was an artist and writer. During the second World War he joined the RAF and was posted as a Pilot Officer to 65 Squadron in April 1941. In July he was posted to 609 Squadron and on 8th November, while being chased by two Fw 190s, turned and shot one of them down. In March 1942 he was again posted, this time to 154 Squadron, but the following month he joined 601 Squadron as a flight commander to go to Malta. He flew from the carrier USS Wasp, and arrived on the island on 20th April. He fought on the island until June, when he was returned to England tour-expired. His fighting was during the most confused time, and 601 Squadron, lacking even an intelligence officer, had trouble in assessing its claims or keeping any records. However, Barnham claimed 6½ aircraft while on the island to bring his score to 7½. Back in England he was an instructor at 57 OTU until December 1944 when he joined 126 Squadron on Mustangs for a short period.
After the war he was the Art Master at Epsom College He was a wonderful raconteur who enlivened his lessons with tales of wartime derring-do whilst also imparting the essentials of his subject. He was a gifted draughtsman who could draw trigliphs and metopes or ogee curves or acanthus leaves in intricate detail, yet his soaring spirit also encouraged artistic experimentation.
After the war he was the Art Master at Epsom College He was a wonderful raconteur who enlivened his lessons with tales of wartime derring-do whilst also imparting the essentials of his subject. He was a gifted draughtsman who could draw trigliphs and metopes or ogee curves or acanthus leaves in intricate detail, yet his soaring spirit also encouraged artistic experimentation.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 6, 2011
This book is, in a larger sense, the author's distillation of his experiences as an RAF Flight Lieutenant in 601 Squadron during his tour of duty on the island of Malta in the Spring of 1942. At that stage of the war, Malta served as a linchpin in Britain's ongoing efforts to retain a presence in North Africa and the Mediterranean against the Axis Powers. From Malta, British air and naval vessels would harry German and Italian ships sending supplies to Rommel in the Western Desert during the height of the fighting there. Ship sinkings became almost prohibitive to the Axis, so both the Germans and Italians resolved to destroy Malta through air assault.
Barnham was newly married and in his early 20s when he volunteered for service in Malta, which at the time of his arrival, was on the point of starvation. Through his diary entries and the sketches and paintings he made, Barnham speaks honestly about his struggles to take to the skies that were overwhelmingly dominated by the Axis Powers, overcoming his qualms about war's utter brutality, and simply coping with what seemed at the time to be the likelihood of a joint Italo-German invasion of the island. This book is also a testament to the ability of the human spirit, under the pressures of war, to endure and prevail against overwhelming odds.
Barnham was newly married and in his early 20s when he volunteered for service in Malta, which at the time of his arrival, was on the point of starvation. Through his diary entries and the sketches and paintings he made, Barnham speaks honestly about his struggles to take to the skies that were overwhelmingly dominated by the Axis Powers, overcoming his qualms about war's utter brutality, and simply coping with what seemed at the time to be the likelihood of a joint Italo-German invasion of the island. This book is also a testament to the ability of the human spirit, under the pressures of war, to endure and prevail against overwhelming odds.
May 29, 2015
This is the account of a young Spitfire pilot; Denis Barnham was twenty-two when he flew out to Malta in April 1942, joining the increasingly desperate struggle to save Malta from surrender. I already knew from previous research of the overwhelming odds facing the Spitfire pilots, with often only four planes in a flyable condition against ten times that number of enemy aircraft. What this book does is to get you into the mind of someone who has to take off knowing the sky is full of hostile planes.
“Oh God- the 109s- they have complete mastery in our sky. They seem to fly in a great staircase or net designed to catch us – first quite low down, a pair or four, just behind them another pair a little higher and so on up to thirty thousand feet. Mix it with the 109s at low level and they can call twenty or thirty of their friends down to outnumber you drastically within a few seconds.” p73
So this is a brutally honest account based on the diary which Barnham kept at the time. Many of the other accounts I’ve read tend to understate the emotional state of the pilots. Barnham does not. He is afraid and on a number of occasions ill with ‘Malta dog’ (a form of dysentery). He agonises over the lack of letters from his wife, Diana – they had married in January 1942. He wrestles with his conscience about the rights and wrongs of killing and describes the island with an artist’s eye. He does his best to continue sketching and painting. He has also to cope with the deaths of friends, Max, Peter and others and the inexperienced boys who have been sent out to Malta lacking the necessary experience. He records all this without dwelling on it but I got the feeling that it must have helped him a little to be able to confide in his diary. He went on to teach after the war at Epsom College so he did get his wish to make art central to his life. I would have liked to have met him and I certainly enjoyed reading his book.
“Oh God- the 109s- they have complete mastery in our sky. They seem to fly in a great staircase or net designed to catch us – first quite low down, a pair or four, just behind them another pair a little higher and so on up to thirty thousand feet. Mix it with the 109s at low level and they can call twenty or thirty of their friends down to outnumber you drastically within a few seconds.” p73
So this is a brutally honest account based on the diary which Barnham kept at the time. Many of the other accounts I’ve read tend to understate the emotional state of the pilots. Barnham does not. He is afraid and on a number of occasions ill with ‘Malta dog’ (a form of dysentery). He agonises over the lack of letters from his wife, Diana – they had married in January 1942. He wrestles with his conscience about the rights and wrongs of killing and describes the island with an artist’s eye. He does his best to continue sketching and painting. He has also to cope with the deaths of friends, Max, Peter and others and the inexperienced boys who have been sent out to Malta lacking the necessary experience. He records all this without dwelling on it but I got the feeling that it must have helped him a little to be able to confide in his diary. He went on to teach after the war at Epsom College so he did get his wish to make art central to his life. I would have liked to have met him and I certainly enjoyed reading his book.
February 3, 2025
Denis Barnham was kunstschilder en kunsthistoricus. In 1942 vocht hij op Malta mee met de Engelse luchtmacht, de Royal Air Force. Hij was toen 22 jaar en hij werkte als commandant. Barnham was een atypische militair, die een hekel had aan geweld, maar hij deed zijn werk toch met volledige inzet. Hij hield een dagboek bij dat hij na de oorlog bewerkte tot een indrukwekkend verslag van de oorlog in de Middellandse Zee. Het boek steekt uit boven veel andere oorlogsboeken, omdat het zo persoonlijk is en de auteur zijn emoties goed onder woorden brengt, met name de angst, de ernstige vermoeidheid en het gemis van de geliefde. Zijn nog jonge vrouw reageerde niet op zijn brieven, maar later bleken die er wel te zijn, maar waren ze zoekgeraakt. In die tijd was telefonisch contact nog niet mogelijk. Barnham had ook als militair al veel belangstelling voor kunst, maar hij had zeker ook oog voor mensen. Het deed hem veel verdriet als mensen om het leven kwamen, want het werk was uiterst riskant. Het boek is in het Nederlands vertaald onder de titel ‘Een op tien’.
December 8, 2020
Excellent piece of work and very deep. Thought provoking. I would say a book well ahead of its time and applicable today.
Full of struggle and anguish and human drama. I would say an ideal read for any number of people, not just WWII interests.
Earns a four star rating due to the grammar and misspells. The kindle edition is ripe with errors. It retracts from the experience. I enjoyed this tremendously.
Full of struggle and anguish and human drama. I would say an ideal read for any number of people, not just WWII interests.
Earns a four star rating due to the grammar and misspells. The kindle edition is ripe with errors. It retracts from the experience. I enjoyed this tremendously.
August 23, 2020
Great read about an artist and pilot who not only had to battle the Nazis and the Italians, but had to struggle with his intense belief in the value of life--any life--and the hatred being instilled in his fellow pilots by the atrocities and propaganda of the commanding officers.
This is just a brief snapshot of the time he went to and served on Malta. I wanted to know more about his life after the war. We are given a glimpse into that by his wife's foreward, but Barnham seemed to life that I would have liked to know more about.
This is just a brief snapshot of the time he went to and served on Malta. I wanted to know more about his life after the war. We are given a glimpse into that by his wife's foreward, but Barnham seemed to life that I would have liked to know more about.
December 3, 2021
I am struck by the "modern" touch of the author's contemplations on morals and ethics, fears and emotions. The ideas would not be remarkable if written today, however I have rarely seen them covered so directly in contemporary writing. Quite unique, and makes one appreciate that we are not that different after all -just that much was rarely committed to recorded history.
NB: Listened to the version as excellently read by Al Murray as a podcast extra.
NB: Listened to the version as excellently read by Al Murray as a podcast extra.
August 2, 2021
A fascinating insight into the challenging air war over Malta during the Second World War. Dennis Barnham captures the boredom, and terror of the war, as well as the growing strain of flying sortie after sortie, and being forever under the threat of bombing.
A moving memoir worth reading to understand the personal experiences of the young pilots, rather than the tactical fighting of the battle.
A moving memoir worth reading to understand the personal experiences of the young pilots, rather than the tactical fighting of the battle.
January 16, 2022
Listened to the audio version as read by Al Murray for the We Have Ways of Making You Talk podcast.
Pretty good memoir by a Spitfire pilot of his time in Malta in the first half of 1942. Reading between the lines, Flight Lieutenant Denis Barnham was actually not a very effective pilot, which is kind of hilarious.
Pretty good memoir by a Spitfire pilot of his time in Malta in the first half of 1942. Reading between the lines, Flight Lieutenant Denis Barnham was actually not a very effective pilot, which is kind of hilarious.
January 20, 2022
Excellent account of the author's 3 months in Malta in mid-1942 during the height of the siege of the 2 islands. The inhabitants endured privation and 3 raids a day of 200 bombers each! Against which there was only sufficient fuel to send up 4 spitfires at a time. A remarkable account of endurance and resistance
November 6, 2022
I read this whilst on Holiday in Malta. I very honest diary by a very brave man. It was a different take on the battle of Malta, Denis was much more sensitive and perhaps honest about what he experienced. I'm glad he survived and got back home to his wife.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in the History of Malta and/or the RAF/WW2.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in the History of Malta and/or the RAF/WW2.
September 7, 2024
a true story from the air war
A chapter of the air war in firsthand, vivid detail with all the pedestrian destruction, death, bravery and fear that are seldom so clearly and, in passages, poetically chronicled.
A chapter of the air war in firsthand, vivid detail with all the pedestrian destruction, death, bravery and fear that are seldom so clearly and, in passages, poetically chronicled.
December 22, 2019
A warrior and artist’s story.
I appreciated the author’s honesty relating his struggles to continue to fight, remain humane while holding on to love with his wife.
I appreciated the author’s honesty relating his struggles to continue to fight, remain humane while holding on to love with his wife.
March 25, 2020
Great book, an artistic soul, who wasn't afraid to think critically about the war. Is one of the classics according to me along with The Last Enemy and The Big Show.
May 22, 2020
A very personal accoount, written at the time, and all the better for it.
Takes you right to the placeand holds you.
Takes you right to the placeand holds you.
July 31, 2023
First hand account of a spitfire pilot during the battle for Malta.
July 28, 2021
Easy read really enjoyed it
July 17, 2021
Found this on for free on the We Have Ways of Making You Talk podcast. Utterly engrossing listen of a sensitive artist who has definite pacifist/radical Christ-following leanings but also loves to fly. What happens when a newly-married 22 year-old is dumped into a beautiful hell-hole and faces no letters, revolting nationalistic hatred, and opposition to his artistic escapes on the ground and of course, hungry Messerschmitt 109s in the air?
July 9, 2021
One of the best war memoirs I’ve ever read. Barrow writes harrowing descriptions of war, fear & combat using crisp and coherent language.
Read
March 4, 2016This was the tipping point for Malta. It is a well-articulated description of ten weeks based on the authors diary and sketches. Denis was an artist first and pilot prior to the war. He was immediately pressed into service into as Britain entered the war. The ten weeks described by the author is an interesting view from a lover of humanity and art going through the drill of flying, fighting, and taking care of the "new" guys. An interesting personal description of the emotions, trials, and the physical exhaustion of total war at the tipping point. It is not a fighter yarn, but a very introspective look at the psychological impact of total war.
Want to read
March 9, 2011i really like true war storys about a soldiers who is alive to tell the story
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews