On 9 May 1942, 61 Spitfires flew off the carriers HMS Eagle and USS Wasp to reinforce Malta. Early on 10 May, the fast minelayer turned fast transport HMS Welshman brought Malta 100 spare Merlin engines and almost 100 ground crewmen to service the Spitfires. And the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica launched major attacks on Malta's Grand Harbor.
The result was the largest air battle in the siege of Malta.
