AHQ Malta and other aircraft reached the island during the summer of 1942, the defensive and offensive capabilities of AHQ Malta rose. On 1 July 1942, AHQ Malta had approximately 200 aircraft, about half of which were Spitfires. Air Vice Marshal Sir Keith Park took over command of AHQ Malta On 15 July 1942. At this time, the island provided critical operational air bases for the Allies with proximity to Axis shipping lanes and the battlefields of Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Pantelleria, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and mainland Italy during World War II. There were three main airfields on Malta known as RAF Hal
White Island, Isles of Scilly is covered by the sea, as there are strong currents across it. This White Island should not be confused with a much smaller island of the same name, which lies off the coast of Samson. The uninhabited island lies off the north coast of St Martin's. It is about and until comparatively recently was part of St Martin’s. In 1814 the area of the island was estimated as fifty acres. At the north-east end of the island a fragment of altered killas, which at one time covered a much wider area, could be seen in 1911. In common with the