Attack On Malta
Early in the afternoon, 17 Junkers Ju-88s, escorted by 20 Messerschmitt Me-110s, and 44 Junkers Ju-87s, escorted by 10 Macchi Mc-200s and 10 Fiat Cr-42s, launched their first blitz over Malta, with Illustrious as their target.
Bombs rained down on the dockyard and adjacent areas, but the carrier received only one hit, causing superficial damage. Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua bore the brunt of the attack. Many were killed and hundreds trapped under the rubble of their dwellings.
Members of the Air Raid Precautions and the Special Constabulary were joined by policemen, soldiers, sailors, dockyard workers and other volunteers to search for survivors. A great tragedy occurred at Vittoriosa where 35 people were killed when the crypt of St Lawrence church, where they were sheltering, received a direct hit.