Malta: The Hurricane Years 1940-41

Malta #1

by Christopher Shores, Brian Cull, Nicola Malizia

The long battle for Malta began in June 1940 with the Italian declaration of war on the Allies and the decision of the Axis powers to subdue the island in order to control the Mediterranean. This work provides a detailed day-by-day account of the air battles over land and sea until the end of 1941.

470 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1988

About the author

A career surveyor, Christopher Francis Shores earned an international reputation as one of Britain’s finest aviation historians.

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book fully details the grim years of the Second World War for Britain in the Mediterranean when a small group of Hurricane fighters helped to keep Malta secure as a valuable base for the British. These planes succeeded the 3 Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters - named 'Faith', 'Hope', and 'Charity' - which constituted for a time the only defense for Malta against the aerial onslaught on Malta by the Italian Regia Aeronautica, which began shortly after Italy declared war on Britain in June 1940.

Though the Hurricane performed well against the Regia Aeronautica, it had a very hard time standing up to the Luftwaffe when it made its presence keenly felt over Malta during 1941. In particular, the Messerschmitt 109 fighter, which outclassed it in almost every respect. Nevertheless, the Hurricane helped to keep Malta free as Britain faced the spectre of defeat in the Mediterranean between 1940 and 1942.

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher Shores should give classes on how to write a good history book; his ability to create 5 Star endeavors never ceases to amaze me. This book meets his very high standards, and mine as well, retelling the day to day aerial struggles over Malta following Italy's entry into the war.

Shores uses excellent sources, provides brief but colorful descriptions of interesting actions (usually with both sides points of view given), and painstakingly filtered through the propaganda and "claims" to get an accurate accounting for actual combat losses and achievements. This latter part is invaluable.

I could go on and on about how good this book is (or honestly any other book he writes for that matter), but I won't. This is a well written, nicely illustrated, and expertly assembled history book that should be on any aviation enthusiast's shelves. 5+Stars.

[Duncan Maccoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of two similar books to be written, hence compare with HURRICANES OVER MALTA: June 1940 - April 1942. Note one of the authors later co-wrote ONE-ARMED MAC: The Story of Squadron Leader James MacLachlan DSO, DFC AND 2 BARS, CZECH WAR CROSS. The truth is within these books, and the official records - available at The National Archives in Kew, London.