RAF establishment level early 60s
On 9 December 1964, the last Valiant tanker sortie involved refuelling Lightning aircraft over the North Sea
Apart from the hose thrashing around the drum we were undamaged but the poor Lightning still had our drogue on his port wing. He, apparently, had considerable difficulty in landing it back at Leconfield.
On touchdown at Marham I noticed a Valiant at the holding point with a Standard Vanguard on the taxiway blocking it. I believe that this was a Marham senior officer preventing it from taking off. Shortly afterwards a Marham bomber landed and that was it.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
sharpend, no, Safi was an MU and accessible by road from Luqa. Halfar was the naval station. You can still see it on Google.
Blunty, me old, Safi airstrip lay between Luqa and Hal Far aerodromes. It was very close to Luqa and the two were eventually combined to form Luqa International Airport. Safi lies at the south-eastern end of the 'new' main runway at Luqa.
Hal Far is indeed still identifiable as an ex-aerodrome; however, one RW has now gone and the other is used for drag racing.
I only visited Malta once - in August 1978 for 2 weeks on EX. SOLAR FLARE and Mintoff didn't make us very welcome. But there was enough of the old place still clearly ex-military to make us think what a great posting it must have been 20 years earlier! Also the 'gut' still existed and we quaffed quite frequently in the City Gem, Sliema. Some slob out time in the sun at Robb Lido or Kalafarana was also enjoyed.
Hal Far is indeed still identifiable as an ex-aerodrome; however, one RW has now gone and the other is used for drag racing.
I only visited Malta once - in August 1978 for 2 weeks on EX. SOLAR FLARE and Mintoff didn't make us very welcome. But there was enough of the old place still clearly ex-military to make us think what a great posting it must have been 20 years earlier! Also the 'gut' still existed and we quaffed quite frequently in the City Gem, Sliema. Some slob out time in the sun at Robb Lido or Kalafarana was also enjoyed.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
BEagle we were there more recently and it was surprising just how much of the Britmil infrastructure was untouched. Bighi hospital stood proud, its massive doors open but otherwise deserted. The barracks at Tigne were only just being taken over by the usual immigrants from the sandy places. out of town many army camps remained, rusty barbed wire but otherwise still awaiting our return.
And there was Ta Kali, in the middle of the island with a runway aligned with Luqa's RW13. I remember a 216 Comet 2 landing at (I think it was unused, but an MU at the time) Ta Kali by mistake in 1957/8 when making a straight in approach to Luqa's RW13 from the NW. The captain, who shall remain anonymous, immediately realised his mistake, back tracked the runway and took off again - still with the Duke of Edinburgh on board! Ta Kali is still visible on Google Earth.
Luqa April 1958
Luqa April 1958
