Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1525500
13 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 AUGUST 2024 Martin Maryland Depth: 70m The Maryland lies upside down on a grav- elly/sandy seabed at a depth of 70 metres off the coast of Marsaskala. The starboard engine and its three-bladed propeller are located some distance away. The wreck site consists of the well-preserved wings, the broken nose compartment, the debris of the main fuselage, tail with trim flaps and the port engine. The site was discovered during a side scan sonar survey conducted by the University of Malta's shipwreck sur- vey project in the spring of 2020. The Martin Maryland 167 was a light bomber designed by the Glenn L. Martin Company in response to the light-bomber requirements issued by the United States Army Air Corps in 1938. The Maryland 167 was a twin-engine all-metal construction, with a three-mem- ber crew consisting of the pilot, navigator/ bomb aimer and a radio-operator/gunner. The first three Maryland aircraft to arrive in Malta were fitted with vertical cameras, having successfully attempting a non-stop flight over occupied France, in an aircraft that was unproven in RAF service. On 9 October 1940 the reconnaissance flights from Malta over Taranto started, contin- uing almost every day until on the night of 11-12 November 1940 Operation Judge- ment (the Battle of Taranto) was launched by the Royal Navy, shifting the balance of power in the Mediterranean. B-24 Liberator Depth: 55m The Consolidated B24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, and is the world's most produced heavy bomber, multi-en- gine aircraft and American military air- craft. Throughout the Second World War the B24 was used in all branches of the American Armed Forces and even saw ac- tion with Allied forces. The extensive bombing that took place over the Western European theatre was carried out by B4 liberator aircrafts. This also included most of the heavy bombing that was part of the Italian Campaign be- tween 1942-1943. Reggio Calabria was an important and strategic target for the Al- lied forces, owing to its harbour and rail- road facilities. On 6th May, B24 Liberators dropped 110 tons of bombs over the city, mainly target- ing the harbour. One B24 Liberator developed engine trouble over the city and after dropping its bomb load the crew decided to fly back to Malta, often used a safe haven for damaged aircrafts returning from Sicily and Italy. After several failed landing attempts at Luqa, the 10-member crew was forced to ditch the plane in the sea. The wheels of the aircraft were lowered when it hit the surface, flipping the plane upside down, and after floating for a few minutes, the tail section sank first and the nose last. Nine crew members survived and were rescued by the Royal Air Force Air Sea Rescue, but one member of the crew re- mained unaccounted for. The wreck site of the B24 Liberator was discovered in 2015 through a side-scan so- nar remote sensing survey and lies approx- imately 1.5km south-west of Marsaxlokk at a depth of 55 metres on a sandy seabed. In 2023, the US Defence Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Accounting Agency – the DPAA – announced that remains re- covered from the wreck could be identified as Sgt Newman. Supermarine Spitfire Depth: 70m The Supermarine Spitfire was the back- bone of the Royal Air Force, in service on the frontlines from the beginning to the end of the Second World War. The history of the Spitfire wreck located off the coast of Gozo is linked to Opera- tion Husky – the Allied invasion of Sicily (10 July 1943-17 August 1943). After the Allied victory in North Africa (Operation Torch), a decision was made to focus on Italy next, considered to be the 'soft under- belly' and the weakest Axis power. In preparation for Operation Husky, 25 Spitfire Squadrons comprising some 400 aircraft were to be based in Malta. By May 1943 it was decided that an airfield in Gozo was required, with Xewkija chosen as the aerodrome site. The construction of the airfield was com- pleted in 20 days and on 30 June 1943 the first Spitfires landed in Gozo, marking the first-time aircraft safely landed on the is- land. The Gozo airfield USAAF Spitfire Squadrons from the 31st Group – the 307th, 308th, 309th fighter squadrons – were tasked with providing coverage of the invasion fleet during Operation Husky. A missing air crew report dated to 30 June 1943 provides information on the Spitfire that was lost off the coast of Gozo. The missing Spitfire was a Twelfth Air Force asset from the 308th fighter squad- ron of the 31st Group, having departed from Korba, Tunisia, on a route to Pantel- leria and Gozo. The aircraft disappeared after a missed approach on the Xewkija airfield and it was at this point when ra- dio contact was lost. The aircraft is listed as having been lost as a result of crashing into the sea. The lost aircraft was reported as a Spit- fire Mk Vc with a Merlin 45 engine, and unknown armaments. The Malta Air/Sea Rescue is recorded as having picked up the distress call and conducting a search in the area where the aircraft was last noted, with no success. HMS Nasturtium Depth: 67m Today, HMS Nasturtium lies approxi- mately 10km outside the Grand Harbour at a depth of 67 metres. First discovered by fishermen, HMS Nasturtium lies upright on the seabed and is well-preserved but for some damage to her stern. Armaments and other nautical elements such as port- holes and navigational instruments are still visible. The wooden elements of the deck have since deteriorated due to shipworm, and the site is now heavily colonised with sponges and other marine life. On 24 April 1916, HMS Nasturtium left Malta but was ordered to return immedi- ately to search for submarines and mines, laid by the German submarine U-73. In the evening of 27 April, HMS Nasturtium was located approximately 10km off the coast of Valletta, steaming at 10 knots, when she struck a mine. The mine exploded below the waterline on the starboard side next to the foremost funnel. Both boiler rooms flooded and a signifi- cant amount of coal was forced out of the hole caused by the explosion. This caused the sloop to list to port, and it was this ex- cessive list that caused the ship to slowly flood. Later reports by the commanding officer reveal that all the bulkheads and portholes held well. Several attempts were made to tow the minesweeper to safety, ultimately, howev- er, the crew had to be evacuated and HMS Nasturtium sunk in the early morning hours of 28 April 1916. The same mine- field caused the sinking of HMS Russell the previous day, and HMY Aegusa on the same day as she attempted to aid HMS Na- sturtium. B24 Liberator Supermarine Spitfire HMS Nasturtium