Vertical aerial photograph taken during a bombing attack by Italian Air Force on Hal Far airfield, Malta, 1940. Bombs are seen exploding on the installations in the northern corner of the airfield and over its eastern perimeter. Victor Sierra

Italian bombs against Malta

An Italian Regia Aeronautica’s S.79 over Malta on the first weeks of the war, Summer 1940. The first mission date back to 11 June 1940, the day after the Italy’s declaration of war to Great Britain and France when 35 aircraft raided La Valletta, Hal Far airfield and Kalafrana air harbor. The mission was duplicated on the afternoon of the same with 38 bombers. After this raids, the missions over Malta was limited to recce flights. This until 26 June when the Regia Aeronautica restarted the bombardment missions increasingly opposed by the fighters, still few, and by anti-aircraft artillery particularly redoubtable. On 7 July an Italian bomber was shot down in flames, on 24 July two others S.79s was shot down by the Gladiators, on the 13 July the first night bombardment of La Valletta by 8 S.79s (one shot down). And the escalation kept with day and night raids took also, for a brief time, by Cant-Z-1007bis. Victor Sierra

Malta: the first raids

An Italian Regia Aeronautica S.79 crossing the Sicilian coasts under a strong MC.200’s fighter escort for a day mission over Malta. The Macchi fighter’s presence – first version with enclosed cockpit and sliding canopy – date back this photo to Autumn 1940 when the MC.200, solved its troubles, was again declared combat ready. The use of MC.200 “Saetta” in place of CR.42s allowed in part a best clash with the RAF’S fighters now increasingly Hawker Hurricanes in place of few and obsolescent Gloster Sea Gladiators. Victor Sierra