Royal Air Force- Operations in Malta, Gibraltar and the Mediterranean, 1940-1945. CM3706

Royal Air Force- Operations in Malta, Gibraltar and the Mediterranean, 1940-1945.
Wing Commander P P Hanks, while leader of the Luqa Fighter Wing in Malta.

Prosser Hanks served with the RAF before the war, joining No. 1 Squadron RAF in 1936, and serving with them during the campaign in France, by which time he was a flight commander. After claming seven victories he was shot down on 15 May 1940 and returned to the United Kingdom, where he became a flying instructor with No. 5 Operational Training Unit. He returned to operations in December 1940 when he was posted to No. 257 Squadron RAF. In June 1941 he was given the command of No. 56 Squadron RAF and was then promoted and served as Wing Leader at Duxford from December 1941 to February 1942. He then led the Coltishall Wing before flying out to Malta in early August 1942 as Wing Leader at Luqa. Following further victories, for which he was awarded the DSO, he commanded at Hal Far from December 1942 until February 1944 when he was promoted Group Captain and posted to command No. 286 Wing in Italy. He returned to the United Kingdom in October 1944, and finished the war commanding RAF Aston Down with a confirmed total of 14 victories.