Warburton's War

by Tony Spooner

Adrian Warburton (known to all as Warby) was one of the most highly decorated pilots of the war. Fearless in the air, he won fame in Malta for his invaluable photo reconnaissance work at Taranto, Sicily and North Africa, So invaluable that he was ordered NOT to make detours to shoot down enemy planes, yet he shot down nine! A below-average misfit with 22 Squadron of Coastal Command Warby was sent to Malta to avoid trouble in the UK, and guided by an understanding Australian, quickly became famous. Known at first as a loner, he was given his head by AOC Air Vice Marshal Hugh Pughe Lloyd and the spectacular results he achieved enabled his unconventional behaviour to be over-looked. With his glamorous girl-friend Christina, the two became part of Malta’s legend, symbols of the island’s resistance. Still in Malta, Warby later became CO of first 69 Squadron and then 683 PR Squadron. After contributing greatly to the success of the Sicily landings, for which he was personally thanked by Gene