Fortress Malta - by Nicolas Trudgian

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The Signatories

Squadron Leader Keith Lawrence

Born in Waitara on November 25 1919. Lawrence was at Southland Boys’ High School from 1933 to 1936 and then went to work as a bank clerk in Invercargill. He enrolled in the Civil Reserve of Pilots in February 1938 and in June he successfully applied for a short service
commission in the RAF and left for England in the RMS Tainui on February 1 1939.
He began his ab initio course at 10 E&RFTS, Yatesbury on March 16, as a pupil pilot. He went on to 5 FTS, Sealand on May 28 for No 40 Course, which ran from March 30 to November 5 1939.
With training completed, Lawrence joined the newly-reformed 234 Squadron at Leconfield on November 6. The squadron then had Blenheims but began to receive Spitfires in March 1940. On May 6 he was sent to the School of Air Navigation, St Athan for No 6 Short Navigation Instructors’ Course, which ran until June 28 1940. He qualified as an Air Navigator 2nd Class, in preparation to be Squadron Navigation Officer. He rejoined 234 on June 30. Lawrence shared in the destruction of a Ju 88 on July 8, the squadron’s first victory. On July 12 he damaged a Ju 88, on August 24 he damaged a Bf 110 and on September 7 he claimed a Bf 109 destroyed and damaged a Do 17. Two days later Lawrence was posted to 603 Squadron at Hornchurch and on the 15th, his first sortie with 603, he claimed a Bf 109 destroyed and two others damaged. On October 8 1940 Lawrence was posted to 421 Flight, then forming at Hawkinge. On November 23 he damaged a Bf 110 and on a weather reconnaissance over Ramsgate on the 26th he was shot down by Bf 109s. The Spitfire disintegrated and Lawrence found himself falling. He got his parachute open, went into the sea and burst open a dye sachet, colouring the water. He was picked up by a minesweeper and taken to Ramsgate, where he was admitted to hospital, with his right arm dislocated and his right leg broken.
After convalescence at Torquay, Lawrence rejoined 421 Flight on December 4 1941, by then renumbered 91 Squadron. He was sent to 52 OTU, Aston Down for a refresher course on Spitfires. He rejoined 91 on January 10 1942 but was soon afterwards posted to HQ RAF
Mediterranean at Valetta, Malta. From there he joined 185 Squadron at Hal Far on February 17. On March 23 he shared a He 111, on April 9 damaged a Ju 88, on the 24th he damaged a Bf 109, on May 9 he got a probable Ju 87 and damaged a Bf 109, on the 10th got another probable Ju 87 and on the 19th he damaged a Mc 202. Lawrence was promoted to Acting Squadron Leader on May 28 1942 and took command of 185, leading it until he returned to the UK in early August. He was posted to 52 OTU, Aston Down but moved to 57 OTU, Hawarden on September 4. He was awarded the DFC (12.9.42). In early July 1943 Lawrence went to Duxford for liaison duties with the USAAF. On October 27 he was posted to CGS, Sutton Bridge, on the Pilot Gunnery Instructors’ Training Wing. In late May 1944 Lawrence went to 28 OTU, Wymeswold, where he flew Hurricanes by day and night against Wellingtons, training air gunners. He returned to operations on February 5 1945, when he joined 124 Squadron at Manston, flying Spitfire IXs. On July 15 1945 Lawrence transferred to the RNZAF. He returned to New Zealand in late May 1946 and went on to the Reserve in September.

Flight Lieutenant Len Davies

Davies was born on November 17 1920 went to school in Stockton on Tees. He joined 608 Squadron, AAF about July 1939, as an Aircrafthand (808429). Called up on August 24, he remustered as an Airman u/t Pilot. With training completed, he went to 7 OTU, Hawarden on July 1 1940. After converting to Hurricanes, he joined 151 Squadron at Martlesham Heath on July 15.
He made a crash-landing at Eastchurch on August 28, following a combat over the Thames Estuary. He was wounded and did not fly with 151 again until November 6 1940. On December 13 Davies was posted to the Middle East. He arrived at Malta in a Sunderland
from the Middle East on January 30 1941 and joined 261 Squadron at Ta Kali. On February 4 he damaged a Ju 88 and on May 9 a Ju 87. He returned to the Middle East later in the month. Commissioned in December 1942, Davies was released from the RAF in 1946, as a Flight Lieutenant.

General Giacomo Metellini

Metellini earned his wings on 17th September 1930, attaining the title of “Piloa di Aeroplano” (pilot of Airplane), Flying the FIAT CR20 he began learning the basics of becoming a military fighter pilot. After a few months his training period was completed, and he was appointed
Military Pilot, and promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the 14th December 1930. The young Sergeant’s first assignment was the 76th “Squadriglia Caccia” based near Rome. In 1939 Metellini was appointed Lieutenant and volunteered for the Spanish campaign, and was
assigned to the X Gruppo, 102nd Squadron. After Mussolini declared war, his gruppo was sent to Taranto. Flying CR.32 they flew escort missions in defence for the Italian home fleet. In December 1940, he was sent to Africa flying the new Fiat G. ‘Freccia’. Whilst there his unit performed ground strafing, escort missions, and bomber escort missions for BR20’s and JU87’s of Italian and German units. The missions were flown over Tobruk, Sollum and Sidi Barrani. In August of 1941, the 2nd Gruppo was sent back to Italy, becoming the first group equipped with the newest Italian fighter, the Reggiane 2001”Falco II”. Familiarization and training with the Re.2001 took some time. By May 1942 his unit was considered combat ready and sent to the airbase at Santo Pietro di Caltagirone, Sicily. The mission was no easy task; escort and protect the bombers attacking Malta.
The entire summer of 1942 went on with escorting missions and dogfighting against the British Spitfire’s based on the isle of Malta. It was Metellini’s toughest period because the missions where frequent, sometimes two or three a day. In comparison the Re.2001 was a good airplane, but the Spitfire was a very tough opponent, with superior engine power, heavy armament and British pilots who were very good. Metellini also participated in the attack on two of the biggest British convoys sent to Malta, the “Harpoon” convoy in June 1942 and “Pedestal” convoy in August 1942. During these battles, his 2nd Fighter Group escorted Savoia Marchetti S 79 torpedo bombers, led by the famous torpedo ace Buscaglia.During the combat period over Malta, the 2nd Group lost half of its pilots. Tired and exhausted the remaining pilots and airplanes where sent back to Italy at the end of September. At the end of the war, he came back to Italy where he joined the new Aeronautica Militare in September 1945, with the rank of Captain.
During his distinguished military flying career, Brigadier General Giacomo Metellini completed roughly 2,500 flight hours and flew almost 50 different types of aircraft. Giacomo Metellini passed away at the age of 99 on June 24th, 2012, one week before his 100th birthday.

Keith Lawrence and Len Davies biographies reproduced with kind permission from the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. ©
Not to be reproduced without written permission.

150	Main edition	Signed by two RAF fighter pilots and one Italian fighter pilot	$275
300	Artsit Signed Ltd. edition	Signed by the artist only	$185