The Malta Assignment

Rudy Worth, a young American aeronautical engineer, is assigned to assist what's left of England's Royal Air Force as it gets ready to defend the vital Mediterranean island of Malta in 1939. Invasion of the tiny island by both Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy are imminent. For Rudy and the rest of the RAF, thousands of lives are on the line. But in war, nothing is ever as it seems. . .

In 1939, a young American aeronautical engineer, Rudy Worth, is assigned to assist what's left of England's Royal Air Force as it gets ready to defend the Mediterranean island of Malta, a vital point along the Mediterranean passage for German supplies from Europe to north Africa. Invasion of the tiny island by both Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy are imminent, and Rudy must assist in the development of air protection defense against bombers flying in from Sicily, just 65 miles away. His assignment quickly becomes more complicated, involving newly spotted German Messerschmitts over France, a secret military airstrip in Italy, and a spot on a blacklist for assassination. For Rudy and the rest of the RAF, thousands of lives are on the line. But in war, nothing is ever as it seems. . .

John Granito earned his private pilot's license immediately after high school and his U.S. commercial pilot's license for land and seaplanes following military service. He's had special training in aerobatics and is also a certified sailplane pilot. His education, training, and years of experience in aviation is evident in his first novel, "The Malta Assignment." Dr. Granito's university studies and continuing research in the leadership of organizations has been enhanced by extensive, long-term consulting in emergency management and crisis decision making for many organizations around the globe. He has instructed more than 200 teams for the National Emergency Training Center and is the author of more than 100 relevant technical reports, monographs, books, articles, and journal columns. Today, Dr. Granito is retired as the Vice President for Public Service and External Affairs and Professor Emeritus of Binghamton University, SUNY. He and his wife live in southwest Florida.