Hal Far Fighter Flight RAF

For several weeks, the island of Malta was protected by a small force of Gloster Sea Gladiator biplane fighters (subsequently supported by Hawker Hurricanes), based at RAF Hal Far;[1][unreliable source?]

The flight is the source of the myth, that only three aircraft, named Faith, Hope, and Charity (N5519, N5520, and N5531) formed the fighter cover for the island.

Shipping crates containing eighteen Gloster Sea Gladiators Mark I (serial numbers N5518 – N5535) from 802 Naval Air Squadron, were left at Malta in early 1940 by HMS Glorious.

[8] In April, it was decided that Malta had a need for fighter protection, and although the Gladiators were obsolete, they could hold their own in air combat against the Italian Regia Aeronautica bombers.

A reporter, Mabel Strickland, claimed that "the Italians decided they didn't like [the Gladiators and AA guns], so they dropped their bombs [30 kilometres (19 miles)] off Malta and went back".

Five Hawker Hurricanes were ferried to Malta via France and Tunis by the end of June, joining the Sea Gladiators of the flight.

[13] The fuselage of N5520, popularly known as Faith, is on display at the National War Museum, Fort St Elmo, Valletta.

Faith (serial number N5520), a Gloster Sea Gladiator Mk I , on the ground at an airfield in Malta , in about September 1940. N5520 is the only surviving Gladiator from the Hal Far Fighter Flight, and was presented to the people of Malta in 1943.
Fuselage of Faith in the National War Museum , Malta.