Operation Bowery

Operation Bowery
Part of the Battle of the Mediterranean of the Second World War
Relief map of the Mediterranean Sea
Date 3–9 May 1942 Location Western Mediterranean 35°9′27.13″N 11°30′49.22″E / 35.1575361°N 11.5136722°E / 35.1575361; 11.5136722 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom  United States	Italy  Germany
Commanders and leaders
Force W: Charles Daniel USS Wasp: John W. Reeves, Jr.
Casualties and losses
1 pilot killed 1 pilot returned to Wasp 1 pilot missing	none

Operation Bowery was an Anglo-American operation during the Second World War to deliver fighter aircraft to Malta, an operation known informally as a Club Run. Spitfires were needed to replace the remaining obsolete Hurricane fighters, to defend Malta from Axis air raids.

In the first half of 1942, the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica had inflicted serious damage on airfields, docks and other infrastructure. The bombing had severely depleted the number of operational fighters and anti-aircraft guns and the RAF had to withdraw most of its bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. So many ships were sunk in harbour that the Navy withdrew most of its ships.

The Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy) found it much easier to protect convoys to Libya and the vast majority of the supplies and personnel convoyed reached port in April and May, allowing the Axis forces there to prepare for Operation Venice (26 May – 21 June 1942) against the Eighth Army at Gazala.

The success of Operation Bowery regained British air superiority, creating the conditions for Operation Julius and Operation Pedestal, convoy operations which revictualled Malta, easing the siege and allowing offensive air and naval operations to be resumed.