From Scots Street to Lascaris : the development of the air defence organisation of Malta : 1940-1943

Abstract

Plenty has been written about Malta’s roles during the Second World War, ranging from an unsinkable aircraft carrier, to a naval outpost, to the stepping stone into Sicily in 1943. Little, if anything, has been published, however, about the manner in which Malta was defended, that is, the network of early warning, interception and engagement. The latter phrase encompasses the means by which enemy aircraft are detected, the methods by which friendly assets are directed towards their target, and the final step which is the elimination of the threat. This work will endeavour to shed light on how Malta’s air defence organisation developed and was maintained throughout the Air Battle of Malta. Primarily, this will result in an evolutionary history of this aspect, however this study will emphasise the significance of Malta’s air defence organisation in the broader military action happening in and around the island fortress during the Second World War, furthering the completion of the island’s past.