Hal Far, Malta
Went on landaway to Malta early '68 or '69 in a 14 Sqn Canberra from RAFG. Luqa was in the process of runway resurfacing so we went to Hal Far but were in the mess at Luqa. On one occasion our transport was held up/diverted because a Varsity was being towed from Luqa to Hal Far so it could depart after some repairs! Certainly the roads were wide enough (and looked like taxiways anyway) but how the tug got it up the hill I don't know.
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Gozo Airstrips
There appear to have been two airstrips on Gozo during the time of the Sicily invasions. The following link is quite informative.
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Does anyone know the fate of the Russian transport aircraft, which was purportedly flown to Luqa dy a defecting pilot. It sat for a long time on a pan at Luqa in the 60s.
Last edited by Lukeafb1; 19th Oct 2011 at 08:50.
Taxi links from Luqa
I can confirm that during the siege of Malta aircraft did indeed taxi between Luqa , Hal Far and Takali. My Halton brat father was on 126 Sqn at the time and described the practice, sharing maintainance facilites in the quarry at Luqa and using a series of link tracks , including public roads to disperse. There are photos around of this going on.
I did a brief Cadet detachment to Malta in '69 and recall a Constellation which had been impounded for gun running as being a well known resident. I don't recall seeing any Russian transport.
I did a brief Cadet detachment to Malta in '69 and recall a Constellation which had been impounded for gun running as being a well known resident. I don't recall seeing any Russian transport.
Looking at Hal Far on satellite photo's, there appears to be a dragstrip there now.
I recall seeing a few pieces of scrap aircraft at Hal Far back in January 1978, but cannot recall the types. Perhaps the remains of a Firefly U9 left over from the days of 728B squadron which operated drones for the FAA to shoot down?
I'm surprised to hear of aircraft taxying from Luqa to Takali, it's a very long way to taxi and, assuming airworthy, would warrant flying.
I know they were taxied between Safi, Hal Far and Luqa, could that be what's remembered?
I know they were taxied between Safi, Hal Far and Luqa, could that be what's remembered?
DGH fan. Certainly Safi strip was indeed on the network. I could well be mistaken regarding Takali, as memory plays tricks and the old man has been gone many years.
P.S. Just checked in "Briefed to Attack" ( Air Marshal Sir Hugh Lloyd). Sketch maps on pps 61 and 63 show the linked up dispersals Luqa to Safi to Hal Far and aerial photo on pp64 shows the whole complex including the Luqa to Hal Far Taxi link for aircraft.
Lloyd describes the construction of the complex in considerable detail and goes on to talk about Takali , however there is no mention of linking this to the main complex. Interestingly, in a straight line Luqa to Takali is five miles , only just over a mile or so more than Luqa to Hal Far.
P.S. Just checked in "Briefed to Attack" ( Air Marshal Sir Hugh Lloyd). Sketch maps on pps 61 and 63 show the linked up dispersals Luqa to Safi to Hal Far and aerial photo on pp64 shows the whole complex including the Luqa to Hal Far Taxi link for aircraft.
Lloyd describes the construction of the complex in considerable detail and goes on to talk about Takali , however there is no mention of linking this to the main complex. Interestingly, in a straight line Luqa to Takali is five miles , only just over a mile or so more than Luqa to Hal Far.
Last edited by Haraka; 21st Oct 2011 at 10:42.
After the Battle did a whole issue on Malta years ago. As far as I recall (my copy is somewhere in my loft) it listed:
Luqa
Safi
Hal Far
Qrendi
TaQali
The Racecourse
as land airfields and Masaxxlok Harbour/Kalafrana plus St Pauls Bay as sea landings. It only listed one very temporary airfield on Gozo.
Luqa
Safi
Hal Far
Qrendi
TaQali
The Racecourse
as land airfields and Masaxxlok Harbour/Kalafrana plus St Pauls Bay as sea landings. It only listed one very temporary airfield on Gozo.
Adding to the post from Shackman, my father who was in the RAF was posted to Malta from 1968 - 1971. One day we were meeting someone who was flying BEA from the UK and the aircraft was using Hal Far owing to runway resurfacing. Passengers were being bussed from Hal Far where presumably all ramp operations were undertaken to the civil terminal at Luqa. I don't know if the bus journey would have been entirely "airside" but security wasn't an issue in those days.
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In 1944 HMSO published a pamphlet called 'The Air Battle of Malta. It has many good photos, though the text has to be taken with a pinch of salt after the propaganda merchants and censors had had their go. On page 12-13 there is a map of the eastern section of the island, and it shows the airfields of Malta: Takali, Luqa, Safi Strip and Hal Far. Hal Far appears to be just a field, but Luqa had four runways, Takali three, and Safi two. Between Luqa, Safi and Hal Far are lots of squiggly black lines showing the dispersal pens and the roads between them; and yes, it appears to have been possible to taxi, in a meandering manner, from Luqa to Hal Far. The vertical photo of Takali posted in this thread is similar to, but not quite the same as, a photo on page 44-45.
If you can get a copy the booklet is worth it for the photos alone. My father was out there twice, in late 1941-42, very briefly, as a Whitley W/Op.
If you can get a copy the booklet is worth it for the photos alone. My father was out there twice, in late 1941-42, very briefly, as a Whitley W/Op.
Copied this from the photos thread to add to the nostalgia - a fine 1957 selection of Canberras, Valiants and Shacks in the background at Luqa.
Photo taken from a 99 Sqdn Hastings
Photo taken from a 99 Sqdn Hastings
"In 1944 HMSO published a pamphlet called 'The Air Battle of Malta."
I'd completely forgotten about that pamphlet, which is a bit daft as I only bought my copy from eBay a few months ago.
I'd completely forgotten about that pamphlet, which is a bit daft as I only bought my copy from eBay a few months ago.
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Does anyone have any photos of Short Sturgeons at Hal Far when being operated by 728 Naval Air Squadron. Or the 14 odd Sturgeons that were scrapped there in the late 1950's?
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.