Operation BULLSEYE: Gibraltar to Malta

F/Lt Jackson and P/O Austin continue their expedition the following night. Austin takes off from Gibraltar at 21.15, still with his crew of six plus two ground crew to service the aircraft. Jackson takes off at 21.00.

Austin sets course ENE-ish from Europa Point, the southern tip of Gibraltar, for a position about eight miles off Cabo de Gata (Cape of the Cat, now a National Park), the most south-easterly point of Spain and their last pinpoint before reaching the North African coast. They continue eastwards to a pinpoint off Algiers, but alter course slightly southwards to avoid a thunderstorm, and back again to resume their original course. At 00.36 they reach position off Algiers by ETA, and set course for a position further east. Astro sights taken through the intermittent higher cloud layer indicate they are too far north. With no D/F or radio stations to triangulate on, they set course to 146 degrees to intercept the coast. At 02.55, off to port they spot the light of the lighthouse at Cape Bon. Flying to the light, which they reach at 03.22, course is set for a point off the Tunisian town of Monastir. From there they set course for Malta; at 04.34 they fly on track over the small Italian island of Linosa (which provides a convenient checkpoint) and Gozo is seen ahead at 05.03. Austin orbits Filfla Island, a tiny islet to the south of Malta, at 05.07, and half an hour later circle the airfield at Luqa. Receiving no acknowledgement, they head back to their position off the south coast to keep out of the way of the air raid that is occupying the airfield’s attention, and they eventually land at 06.05.

Jackson’s report says that the towns on the north African coast were well lit up, and made navigation easy.

Sources

TNA AIR 20/8334, Encls. 100A, 103A