English: Royal Air Force Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VC are spotted on the deck of the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7) in 1942. Wasp loaded the Spitfires on 3 May 1942 and ferried them to the Mediterranean Sea. Here, they were launched on 9 May 1942 to reinforce the British-held Malta ("Operation Bovery"). A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat of Fighter Squadron 71 (VF-71) is parked on the left (with radial engine and folded wings). The British aircraft carrier HMS Eagle is visible in the background. Both carriers launched 64 Spitfires.