Memories of World War 2 Malta 1940 Part 2 Air Raids over Malta Loreto John York recorded 1989

This is part two of my father's memories of his experiences in Malta in June 1940 during the War. He recalls the air raids and being machine-gunned from the air by Italian fighters. He witnessed terrible death and destruction after volunteering for the Royal Air Force in Malta.

He also reflects with great pride on when he, and other airmen at Kalafrana base, unpacked the parts for the Gladiator airplanes that became legendary for their effectiveness against the greatly superior Italian fighter planes in the air war over Malta. The three Gladiators were known as 'Faith', 'Hope' and 'Charity'. They were Malta's only air defense for ten days against scores of enemy aircraft. Their volunteer pilots were truly heroic.

Loreto also reflects on the shock of going from training as a ladies hairdresser in Sliema to suddenly enduring the strong discipline of the Air Force. He describes the extremely dangerous role he played in refuelling Sunderland 'flying boats', which were a prime enemy target. Most importantly, the deaths around him, caused by the frequent bombing raids, haunted him for the rest of his life.

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I am compiling this second instalment to mark the 80th anniversary of the awarding of the George Cross to the people of Malta in 1942. I am compiling the series from excerpts from the oral history interview I recorded with my father, Loreto (1918-2009) in 1989 and 1990. His memories of the War are detailed and insightful and constitute a significant historical source. They are brought to life by his own voice.

A future instalment will focus on the Royal Sovereign's decoy voyage from Malta to Egypt, as my father had detailed recollection of that event. The flotilla was bombed from the air and attacked by submarines. It was "hell".

He believed that the Maltese certainly "proved themselves" in the anti-fascist struggle. As his son, I am proud of, and grateful to, my father for his active service in that war.

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Loreto Meilak was born in Sliema, Malta, on 14 December 1918. His parents and siblings were all from Ghajnsielem, Gozo, but Loreto, the eleventh child (four died as babies) was born after the family moved to Malta.

He worked in Sliema as an apprentice ladies hairdresser and volunteered with the Royal Air Force in Malta in 1940. He served in Malta, the Middle East, Africa, Palestine and France and was stationed in the UK after the War. He demobilized in 1953.

In London in 1947, he changed his name from Meilak to York and also married a Londoner, Olive (nee Turner) that year.

In 1954, Loreto and Olive migrated to Melbourne with their three year old son.

In the mid-1990s, he was presented with the Malta George Cross 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal by Malta's High Commissioner in Australia.

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