Catalina Mark I, Z2147 ‘AX-L’, of No. 202 Squadron RAF based at Gibraltar, in flight approaching Europa Point on returning from an anti-submarine patrol. While serving with the Squadron, Z2147 was credited with nine successful attacks on enemy submarines. Victor Sierra

Europa Point

Curtiss CW-20A, G-AGDI "St Louis", of BOAC is refueled at Gibraltar. "St Louis", which ran regular supply flights between Lisbon, Gibraltar and the besieged island of Malta from 1941 to 1942, the only CW-20 of the BOAC, were the prototype of this twin engine transport plane afterwards built by Curtiss for the US Air Forces as C-46 Commando. At the time it made its first flight on 26 March 1940, the airplanes was named CW-20T with two fins and rudders replaced by a single unit during the tests. The plane was re-designated CW-20 and sold to the U.S. Army and designated C-55-CS. In September 1941, it was returned to Curtiss and sold to British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), registered G-AGDI, and converted to a 24-seat transport. The G-AGDI was flown to Prestwick, Scotland, in November 1941 and began flying long haul routes and the route from Gibraltar to Malta until being scrapped in October 1943.  Victor Sierra



BOAC’s plane at Gibraltar

Vickers Valentia of No. 216 Squadron RAF based at Heliopolis, Egypt, at the landing ground at H4 pumping station on the Iraq Petroleum Company pipeline in Transjordan. Arab Legionnaires stand guard as personnel and supplies are unloaded at H4, which had become the RAF Advanced Headquarters for operations against the rebels in Iraq, 1941. This old-fashioned plane is one of many planes unfairly eclipsed by most famous aircraft of the WW2. Clearly designed for duties on the British Empire as bomber and transport, the Valentia first entered service with No. 70 Squadron RAF at Hinaidi, Iraq in 1934, equipping British forces in India, Persia and Iraq. Immediately before and also during the war the Valentias were extensively used for transport operations (when necessary or night bombing missions in 1940) and remained in service with the Iraq and Persia Communications Flight until 1944. Victor Sierra
