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 General Alexander, he commanded 336 PR Wing in
North Africa. By then he was working closely with the Americans with
whom he got on so well, as he did with the Canadians and South Africans.
After a serious car accident, which caused him to be grounded, he
returned to the UK and, thanks to his friendship with Elliott Roosevelt,
the President's son, took up a liason job with the US PR Group at Mount
Farm. On April 12, 1944 Warburton departed in an American aircraft on an
unusual mission over Europe. Both plane and pilot disappeared without
trace, giving rise to a host of rumours that his disappearance was
intentional. Only now almost 60 years later, can the mystery be solved
with the discovery of both aircraft and human remains near Munich in
Germany. Based on interviews with nearly 150 of Warby's colleagues, and
fully updated with recently unearthed information, Warburtons War paints
a picture of a fascinating man, who over 350 operational missions from
Malta alone became a living legend in that much bombed and beleaguered
island.
