For 29 months during the darkest days of World War II, Malta endured an unrelenting siege. In the history of aerial warfare there has probably never been a closer link between the Maltese and their air defences.

In his book Malta Spitfire Aces, Steve Nicholas said that this account focuses on the part played by Spitfire pilots and squadrons in the desperate defence of Malta in 1942.

In a repeat of the Battle of Britain two years earlier, the iconic Supermarine fighter again proved to be the deciding factor in the struggle for air supremacy over Malta. Spitfire VB AB264 was one of the first 15 Vickers-Supermarine fighters flown to Malta from HMS Eagle on March 7, 1942.

The Malta Aviation Museum is proud to house one of the Spitfires – Mk.IX, EN199 – in its Air Battle of Malta memorial hangar. It was first flown at Eastleigh on November 28, 1942 and taken on charge by 12 Maintenance Unit on December 1, moving to 82 MU on the same day. Eight days later it moved to 47 MU followed by a move to Glasgow two days later.

The aircraft was flown to the North Africa front on January 29, 1943. It was flown by Wing Commander R. Berry DFC, whose initials are now the codes worn on the fuselage, and Squadron Leader C. F. Gray, Commanding Officer of 81 Squadron. EN199 took part in the Allied Operation Torch landings and the subsequent Tunisian campaign, and fought until the Axis surrendered on the Cape Bone peninsula.

Following damage repair, EN199 was issued to 154 Squadron which had moved from North Africa to Malta, from where it took part in Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. The aircraft moved to the Italian mainland taking part in further operations, probably joining 1435 Squadron when the Mark Vs were replaced by IXs. It was photographed at Brindisi in spring of 1944 and again later with 225 Squadron.

From October 11, 1945 up to January 13, 1946, the aircraft was recorded as taking part in meteorological flights with Air Sea Rescue & Communications Flight, Ħal Far. It then moved to Luqa with 73 Squadron. While at Luqa it was blown into a quarry during a gale.

EN199 was struck off charge and later presented to the Boy Scouts Movement based at Floriana. A few years later the aircraft was transported from the Scouts’ Island Headquarters by Civil Defence staff to their headquarters and school at Għargħur. From there it was taken to the new rescue training wing at Tarġa Gap in April 1956 where it languished in a disrespectful state until it was earmarked for restoration by the Malta Aviation Museum. (Sources: Malta Aviation Museum/Malta Spitfire Aces)