In August 1942, British launched Operation Pedestal in an attempt to deliver supplies to the stricken island of Malta, an Allied base which had been under Axis blockade for months. From 9?15 August a convoy of some 50 ships ran the gauntlet of Axis bombers, submarines, E-boats and minefields. Of the original fourteen merchant vessels, only five reached Malta Grand Harbour. In 'I Wish I had Your Wings', Angus Mansfield relates the experiences of two men involved in Pedestal, Captain David Macfarlane of MV Melbourne Star and his nephew David Mejor, one of the Spitfire pilots who fought to protect the convoy. Told using their log books, letters and papers, this is the story of one family's contribution to a relief operation that cost of over 400 Allied lives, but which has gone down in history as one of the most important British strategic victories of the Second World War. AUTHOR: Angus Mansfield is the author of 'Barney Barnfather: Life on a Spitfire Squadron' and 'Spitfire Saga: Rodney Scrase DFC', published by The History Press. He was educated at Wallington Grammar School and currently works in banking. SELLING POINTS: ? The story of Operation Pedestal told using the papers of a pilot and his naval uncle ? Previously unpublished papers and photographs ? Captain David Macfarlane was later awarded the DSO by Lord Louis Mountbatten ? Drawn from primary sources, including pilot's and captain's logs 40 b/w illustrations
