After the spectacular, but less than successful operations in support of the Harpoon/Vigorous Convoys on 15 June, the bulk of the two Beaufort Squadrons in the Med were at Malta. The plan was for the intact 217 Squadron to continue on its trek to Ceylon, while the survivors of 39 were to transit back to rejoin the remainder of the Squadron in Egypt. However, a chance meeting between 39s young, outspoken leader of B Flight, SL Pat Gibbs and the island's AOC Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Lloyd was to spawn great changes in both these plans and all future air operations against Rommel's supply lines.

During the meeting, Gibbs bluntly stated that, in his opinion, the Beauforts were being totally misused as, with hut a single squadron based in Egypt, they did not have the range to hit the enemy nor the numbers necessary to get hits.

Having spent a considerable effort in getting a posting to the Med because he felt the Beaufort was ideal for that theatre, he could not understand why the theater's only modern torpedo planes were not based right on Malta where they could hit the enemy hard and often. Lloyd, himself a bold fighter that had worked wonders in the last year using small numbers of Wellington's, Blenheims, Swordfish and Albacores, was impressed by Gibbs zeal. What Gibbs did not know was that Lloyd had similar feelings. Furthermore, after the partially successful supply effort, the island actually had enough fuel to spend some on offensive operations.

Lloyd arranged for Gibbs to get rapid passage back to Egypt, while implementing his weighty authority to both retain 217 Squadron on the island and to have one flight of 39 Squadron (all that was operation). As luck would have it, this flight was to be led by the fiery Gibbs. However, while he was still in Egypt, reconnaissance planes of the Malta based 69 Squadron located an Italian convoy running across the Med. With Rommel's desert offensive in full gear, it was critical that the island attempt to stop the vital supplies.

The Italian convoy consisted of two merchant vessels, the MV Mario Roselli (6,835 BRT), and the MV Nino Bixio (7,137 BRT), escorted by three destroyers/torpedo boats, and was spotted exiting the Gulf of Taranto. A hasty strike force was put together, ten Beauforts of 217 Squadron, led by OC Wing Commander W. A. L. Davis, escorted by seven Beaufghters of 235 Squadron. In the event, only seven Beauforts and three Beaufighters got off initially and rendezvoused, although two other Beauforts left later on their own.

Unfortunately, the entire operation went bust, as the main strike force missed the target and returned empty handed. Adding injury to insult, the two trailing Beauforts were bounced by long range Ju-88Cs of I/NJG-2. FO Frank John  Robert Thomond Minster, RAFVR, having only flown his first operation on the 15th, was force-landed DD959 on fire. Although he and his crew were seen to get into their dinghy, that was the last time any was seen. Fortunately, Sgt. Hutcheson managed to drag his Beaufort back to Luqa. Reconnaissance reported the convoy put into Palermo. Hopefully, they'd get another crack on the morrow ...