Club Run

"Club Run" was an informal name for aircraft supply operations to the besieged island of Malta during the Second World War. Malta was the object of determined Axis attempts from 1941–1942 to either force the British military authorities to surrender or to destroy its effectiveness as a military base. The island's significance was as 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.

"Club Runs" were covered by Force H, based at Gibraltar (called "The Club"), consisting of the battlecruiser HMS Renown, aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, light cruiser HMS Sheffield and the "F"-class destroyers of the 8th Flotilla. Its Mediterranean operations were called "Club Runs". It was deemed to be an exclusive club of the most efficient warships in the Royal Navy. A mythical "regimental tie" was designed for members of "The Club", consisting of a Mediterranean grey field, scattered with raspberries.

Malta's air defences were essential and aircraft reinforcements and replacements were a constant need. Fighters (Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires) and torpedo bombers (Fairey Swordfish and Albacores) were required but they lacked the range to fly direct from the British base at Gibraltar. The solution was for aircraft carriers to move within range and then "fly-off" fighters to land at a Maltese airfield.

At the outbreak of war, the opinion of the Chiefs of Staff was that Malta was indefensible and this view was supported by a later review that stated: "there is nothing practicable that we can do to increase the powers of resistance of Malta". Winston Churchill disagreed. In July 1940, he insisted that Hurricanes be flown in "at the earliest moment". This led to the first "Club Run", Operation Hurry, using the old carrier HMS Argus.

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