Club Run

Club Run
Part of The Mediterranean campaign of the Second World War
Map of the Western Mediterranean
Type	Aircraft ferry operations
Locations	Western Mediterranean 35°N 18°E / 35°N 18°E / 35; 18 Gibraltar Malta
Planned by	Royal Navy and Royal Air Force
Commanded by	Admiral James Somerville (July 1940 – March 1942) Edward Syfret (March 1942 – 1943)
Objective	Deliver aircraft to Malta
Outcome	Allied victory

Club Run was an informal name for aircraft ferry operations from Gibraltar to Malta during the Siege of Malta from 1940 to 1942 during the Second World War. Malta was half-way between Gibraltar to Alexandria and had the only harbour controlled by the British in the area. Malta had docks, repair facilities, reserves and stores, which had been built up since the cession of the island to Britain in 1814. Malta had become an important staging post for aircraft and a base for air reconnaissance over the central Mediterranean.^[1]

The Axis powers Italy and Germany made several attempts from 1941 to 1942 to either force the British military authorities on the island to surrender or to destroy its effectiveness as a military base. The island was a forward base from which Axis supplies to their North African armies could be attacked. It is a measure of Malta's importance that Britain reassigned fighter aircraft from home defence.^[2]