The three aircraft left for Malta on 6 September, with Warburton as navigator in the second. The next Maryland did not reach Malta until October. A fifth was shot down on the way in November. Intense training alongside operations began immediately. The first operational mission was to Tripoli, with Warburton as navigator. Tich then began training Devine and Warburton as Maryland pilots, a task made easier as the navigator sat in front of the pilot and had a set of flying controls. Devine was soon operational but Warburton struggled on take-off and landing. On his first solo, he landed crosswind, trailing wire behind him from RAF Luqa’s perimeter fence. He then completed a savage ground-loop, an uncontrollable swing through almost 360-degrees. Witnessed by an irate wing commander, Tich was firmly reprimanded for risking a precious aircraft in the hands of such a ‘ham-fisted idiot’. Warburton found himself back in the navigator’s seat.