Merlins Over Malta Events
The
Imperial War Museum in
partnership with Merlins Over Malta
present
Merlins Over Malta
Day
The
9th of May started with some very non Maltese weather. The skies were
grey and overcast, but this didn't dampen anyone's spirits. The Merlins
Over Malta Day at Duxford was underway! The eastern end of Hangar 4 were
transformed into a little corner of Malta, with stands and displays from
The Spitfire Society, The Hurricane Society, The Blenheim Society, CCB
Aviation, The Malta Aviation Museum, FlyPast, The Hornchurch Wing of the
Purfleet Heritage Centre The Battle for Malta Veteran's Reunion, the
Maltese Cultural Society and of course Merlins Over Malta in the north
side of Hangar 4, while the south side was transformed into the theatre
area for the various presentations, the Cambridge Youth Band and book
signings by James Holland. Outside, a Maltese airfield appeared courtesy
of the Historic aircraft Collection's Spitfire and newly refurbished
Hurricane and the RAF at
War team.
The event was officially opened by His Excellency Dr George Bonello Du
Puis, the Maltese High Commissioner. He took to the stage and told the
audience of his experiences as a boy in Malta during the siege.
"I do not remember fear, but I do remember hunger" - Dr George
Bonello Du Puis
Next to take to the stage was the Merlins Over Malta team to introduce
the project and the days events. The emotion and the drive behind the
project became evident as the presentation progressed. Following the
Merlins Over Malta talk, renowned Artist, Gerald Coulson officially
unveiled his latest piece of work - "Merlins Over Malta". This oil
painting depicts the Malta Aviation Museum's Hurricane Z3055 HA-E and
HAC's Hurricane 'Z5410' HA-C over the island of Malta. More details of
this fabulous painting will be available soon.
The
lovely Muriel Pavlow, not a Malta veteran, but a veteran of "The Malta
Story" took to the stage for an interview with Ken Ellis. Muriel Played
Maria Gonzar in "The Malta Story" that was filmed on the Island in 1953
along side Sir Alec Guinness. She talked about this role and one of her
other famous roles playing Thelma Bader along side Kenneth More in
"Reach for the Sky".
After Muriel Pavlow, a Modern day Spitfire pilot took to the stage.
Charlie Brown took the audience for a virtual ride around the circuit in
both the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Charlie passed the stage over to
the first of the Malta Veterans. Wg Cdr Tom Neil DFC AFC who flew in
both the Battle of Britain and the Battle of Malta was interviewed by
James Holland, Author of "Fortress Malta" and the Merlins Over Malta
historian.
Next on stage was someone who appears in James' book - Meme Cortis. This
lady probably saw Malta at its very worst. Meme was a nurse at the
Imtarfa hospital. She described her times on the wards of the hospital
and praised everyone who she cared for.
Gp Capt Billy Drake DSO DFC* DFC (USA) finished off the talks with his
recollections of Malta just before the Spitfire and
Hurricane
were transferred to the flight line. At 3:00 it became clear why. Enemy
aircraft were heard approaching the airfield. The air raid sirens were
sounded, the RAF pilots scrambled to the waiting aircraft and the aerial
combat began! The weather was not good enough for an aerobatic display,
but Clive Denney in the Spitfire and Charlie Brown in the Hurricane
defended the airfield against the enemy attack in a pair of flat
displays followed by some pairs passes over the field. Once the two
aircraft were back on the ground, the rain started, but this did not
deter people from crowding round the aircraft as they returned back to
the exhibition area.
The
day was closed by a final performance of the Cambridge Youth Band.
We feel the day was a great success and we hope that everyone went away
having learnt something about the great battle that took place on this
tiny island in the middle of the Mediterranean.
Thank you once again for your support!
We would like to thank the following:
- The Staff and Volunteers at the
Imperial War Museum, Duxford
- The Veterans who supported us on the
day
- Ken Ellis and all at FlyPast
- UsedJag.com
- RAF at War
- Dr George Bonello Du Puis and the
Maltese High Commission, London
- Muriel Pavlow
- John Romain and all the aircraft
Restoration Company
- The Historic aircraft Collection
- Jeanne Frazer
- James Holland
- Gerald Coulson
- The Spitfire Society
- The Hurricane Society
- The Blenheim Society
- CCB Aviation
- The Malta Aviation Museum
- The Battle for Malta Veteran's
Reunion
- The Cambridge Youth Band
- The Hornchurch Wing of the Purfleet
Heritage Centre
- The Malta Cultural Society
- The Malta Tourism Authority
- The Military Gallery
- Musical Associates
- Relevent Ltd
- All the trade stands that came to
support us on the day
- Nortel Networks - Harlow
- And of course everyone who visited us on the day

Come to Duxford on
Sunday 9 May 2004 and meet some of the men who
battled to save the George Cross Island. Learn about what they and the
Maltese people had to endure and get close to the aircraft that helped to
win the battle for this small island in the Mediterranean.
The aim of the event
being held at Duxford - which is not an air show - is to promote awareness
of the epic siege of Malta, to raise funds for the Merlins Over Malta
project and to create an "up close and personal" day. Considerable
funds are needed to get the aircraft to Malta. You can help by
attending the event and donating to the fund or you can send donations
using the donation form found on this website
Throughout the day there
will be talks and signing sessions from Malta veterans and other people
who have been a part of the island’s history. The Merlins Over Malta
team will talk about their project and how you can help make this project
a success. Re-enactors will be based outside hangar 4. Come
and see what conditions on a Maltese airfield were like. Ask them
questions about Malta, but be aware, they are on duty, so they may have to
scramble at a moments notice.
The highlight of the day
will be the simulated Maltese airfield attack and scramble and the
following flying display from the Spitfire and Hurricane that will be
going to Malta in 2005. When they are not in the air, the aircraft will
be located in the Merlins Over
Malta exhibition area where you can
get up close and
personal with them. Have you ever been around a Spitfire and
Hurricane - to be able to smell the fumes and hear
the roar of the Merlin engines coming to life?
Now’s your chance! On landing, they will be brought straight back to the
exhibition area where you will be able to see – almost feel - what the
aircraft are like when they are warm.
Every village in Malta
has a band, so it is appropriate that the Cambridge Youth Concert Band
will be onsite playing Maltese music for the day.

The event is supported
by FlyPast magazine,
Usedjag.com,
the
Historic aircraft Collection and the
aircraft
Restoration Company. On the day the Usedjag.com team will be
bringing along a Jaguar Formula 1 car and other high tech concept cars for
you to look at.
Other supporters that will be in the exhibition area are:
Check back soon for
further updates on this special event
STOP PRESS
Muriel Pavlow, Alec Guinness's co-star in the film The Malta Story
will be appearing at the Merlins Over Malta Day on Sunday 9th
May at the Imperial War Museum Duxford. Miss Pavlow is also very
well-know to the flying fraternity for her role as Douglas Bader's wife
Thelma in the all-time classic British film Reach For the Sky.
 |
 |
- Muriel Pavlow & Alec
Guinness
- The Malta Story
|
- Muriel Pavlow & Kenneth
More
- Reach For The Sky
|
Miss Pavlow is a keen supporter of
the Merlins Over Malta campaign and will be interviewed about her
roles in these classic films on the hangar 4 stage at the event on 9th
May.
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