British Forces

The planes which strafed Reggio Calabria

Imperial War Museum

Two Bristol Beaufighters of No. 272 Squadron RAF in flight over Malta. Nearest the camera is a Mark VIC, X8079, 'K', which was shot down by German fighters off Maritime Island on 22 May 1943, Behind X8079 is Mark IC, T5043 ‘V’. In November 1942 the squadron (Squadron Codes XK) moved to Malta, from where it continued to carry out ground attack missions, this time against targets on Sicily. The Squadron’s bases on Malta was Ta Kali, November 1942-June 1943, and Luqa, June-July 1943. In September 1943 the No. 272 Squadron moved onto Sicily to extend the range of its operations over Italy, and in February 1944 it moved to Sardinia, from where it could reach targets in the north of Italy and the south of France. In September 1944 it moved to the Italian mainland at Foggia and, March 1945, at Ancona-Falconara. Victor Sierra