WWII Operation Pedestal with Laurence Shallenberger

The SS Ohio was an oil tanker built for the Texas Oil Company, (now Texaco). The ship was launched on 20 April 1940, and was later requisitioned by allied forces to re-supply the island fortress of Malta, during the Second World War. The tanker played a fundamental role in Operation Pedestal, which was one of the fiercest and most heavily contested of the Malta Convoys, in August 1942. Although the Ohio reached Malta successfully, she was so badly damaged that she had to be effectively scuttled in order to offload her cargo, and never sailed again. The tanker is fondly remembered in Malta, where to this day she is considered to be the saviour of the beleaguered island.

Join the Houston Maritime Museum as Laurence shares the true story of the ship and the people - civilians, soldiers, sailors and airmen - who fought with desperation to save the ship from repeated attack so that it and others might arrive at Malta with their cargos in order to save the island and its inhabitants.

[nspr]

An excellent lecture and a well-deserved focus on Francis A Dales and Frederick August Larsen - I will look forward to more. . Such impressive and searing honestly too, pointing out General Bonmner Fellers' terrible dereliction of OPSEC. A pity though that he couldn't spare a few moments for Captain Dudley William Mason of the Ohio - or to explain that the George Cross is the civilian equivalent of the VC or Medal of Honor.

[colinireland]

Malta was awarded the George Cross, the only country ever to be awarded a bravery medal, and its on display in Valletta, the Axis knew that the convoy was coming, they knew that Malta had received 2 ships of supplies in Operation Harpoon in the previous 6 months, they also knew that the convoy had slipped into the Mediterranean as Spanish fishing boats were strung across the Straits of Gibraltar, that the convoy had to pass, it is also rumoured that a French aircraft engine route from Morroco to France had over flown the convoy and had radioed it position and make up to the French authorities

[colinireland]

I thought that Britain and France, not just England and France that declared war on Germany on 3rd September 1939

[davidrenton]

because the audios not great i have subtitles on
9:35 Rommel commanded the 7th Panda Division :)

[williamarthurfenton]

Always saddens me that you never see young people in these lectures. I mean do they have any interests in anything?

[DannyBoy]

It was a 2-and-half year siege. The notion that the island was saved by one ship is ridiculous. Over 1, 000 sailed to Malta at various times. No less important.

[MegaBloggs]

In deference to this mans age I will not be too hard however there are a number significant errors of fact due to interpretation