Ta Kali

Airfield

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Detailed History

Royal Air Force Ta Kali was a Royal Air Force fighter operations base located on the island of Malta, which started life in 1940 as a diversion airstrip for the main operating bases such as RAF Luqa.[1] Other diversion airstrips similar in function to Ta Kali were located at RAF Hal Far and on Malta's second island of Gozo at Xewkija airfield. The base's name reflects an anglicised corruption of the correct Maltese spelling of Ta' Qali, other phonetic variants of the correct name also appear regularly.

he former civil aviation facility was renamed RAF Station Ta Kali on 8 November 1940.[3]

RAF Ta Kali was developed at a time when Malta was under intense aerial bombardment and Malta's Air Command needed to have alternative diversion airstrips on Malta, as the RAF's main operating bases were being bombed. Airfield improvements started in 1940 and for the next three years the RAF base was heavily developed.

The following fighter squadrons were based at RAF Ta Kali:

261 Squadron RAF being the first unit relocated from RAF Luqa on 20 November 1940.

249 Squadron RAF arrived from the UK to replace 261 Sqadron in May 1941. 249 Squadron would be one of the most successful RAF fighter units on Malta.

272 Squadron RAF equipped with Bristol Beaufighter Mark VIFs were occasionally diverted to Ta' Qali.

The RAF Regiment formed a unit at RAF Ta Kali in 1942.[4]

RAF Ta Kali remained a target for Axis aircraft attacks during the height of the siege.[5]

Post war[edit]

Control of the airfield would transfer to the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in 1945 as a shore establishment known as HMS Goldfinch,[6] eventually it would be returned to RAF ownership in 1953. It was eventually closed as an active RAF base in 1968.[7]

In 1952 RAF Gloster Meteor T7s were based at Ta' Qali. 601, 609 and 613 Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons RAF all deployed to Ta' Qali with their Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Vampire fighter aircraft during annual summer training camps in the early 1950s.

The base was finally handed back to the Maltese Government in 1968.



People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner / Armament Inspector / Armament Chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 86th Bomb Squadron 97th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-34490
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot - Squadron Commander
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 31st Fighter Group 350th Fighter Group 309th Fighter Squadron 345th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-421583
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Squadron Operations Officer/Assistant Group Ops Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 84th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-186459
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 86th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Nicknames: Miss Burma
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 85th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Nicknames: Nancy Lee
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 84th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 84th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: A-20 Havoc
  • Nicknames: Pauline
  • Unit: 47th Bomb Group 85th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

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