In March 1942, Battle of Britain Spitfire ace, Jack Williams, is one of 15 pilots flying the first Spitfires to reach the most heavily bombed place on Earth: the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta. Their task is simple, regain control of the air. But when not sheltering from incessant bombing by Luftwaffe forces based only minutes to the north on Sicily, Jack and his fellow pilots are hunted from take off to landing by tens of Messerschmitt 109Fs. Can they, and the Island, survive? The novel is dedicated to the people of Malta and the pilots from all over the world who fought to protect them. The cover design by Martin Butler is based on the image, Spitfire Flypast, by Paolo Camera. Reviewers found the flying scenes in Ron’s Battle of Britain novel, Wings Over Summer, especially vivid and those in Wings Over Malta are no less dynamic. This is because Ron spent much of his 32 years in the RAF as a flying instructor, teaching young men and women to turn upside down, jink and spin in light aircraft. He also picked the brains of several Battle of Britain veterans and current Spitfire pilots.

Over 14 days at the heart of the Battle of Britain, Spitfire pilots Jack and Alex struggle to survive the savage battles raging in the air over southern England. Several times a day, they fly against overwhelming odds, witnessing the death and disfigurement of friends and enemies, and wrestling with the knowledge that the same could happen to them at any moment. Brief periods on the ground offer little respite, with Biggin Hill subjected to frequent air raids, during which many more friends are killed. Both Jack and Alex find love, but only one survives. The flying scenes in Wings Over Summer are especially vivid, perhaps because Ron Powell spent much of his 32 years in the RAF as a flying instructor, teaching young men and women to turn upside down, jink and spin in light aircraft. He also met several Battle of Britain veterans and, more than anything, hopes Wings Over Summer will stand as a tribute to their courage.