From the hangar to the seabed : the airscape of the Maltese islands during the Second World War

Abstract

While concepts of landscape have been firmly incorporated within terrestrial and maritime archaeology for decades, they have yet to be fully utilised in studying the impact of aviation. In this thesis, building upon previous studies within landscape, maritime, aviation, conflict and historical archaeology, a number of unique aviation aspects for studying the aviation cultural landscape and airscape of Malta during its active participation in the Second World War are identified. Historical and archaeological data gathered within this framework is then analysed to both chart the changing aviation cultural landscape and airscape in Malta and to postulate correlations and patterns that can be found through this analysis. The result is a new interpretation on a seminal event in Malta’s history, one that combines the perspectives of those on all sides and from all walks of life to create a truly holistic reimagining of how aviation affected the cognitive and physical landscape of Malta in the first half of the 20th century. In doing so, new information and insights are revealed which shed new light upon long-familiar ground to uncover the true depth of how aviation has radically altered the cultural landscape of Malta. For the first time, the concept of an explicitly stated and defined aviation cultural landscape and airscape is proven and shown to be a valid and invaluable tool for examining the past. In doing so, it acts as a model for examining other aviation cultural landscapes and airscapes around the world.