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RAF Luqa

April 29, 2023

Royal Air Force Luqa was a Royal Air Force station located on the island of Malta, now developed into the Malta International Airport.

RAF Luqa
Malta
RAF Luqa
Shown within Malta
Coordinates35°51′27″N 014°28′39″E / 35.85750°N 14.47750°E / 35.85750; 14.47750Coordinates: 35°51′27″N 014°28′39″E / 35.85750°N 14.47750°E / 35.85750; 14.47750
TypeRoyal Air Force station
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In use1941-1979 (1979)
Airfield information
Elevation78 metres (256 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
05/23  Asphalt
13/31  Asphalt

It hosted aircraft of Air Headquarters Malta (AHQ Malta) during the Second World War. Particularly during the Siege of Malta from 1941 to 1943, RAF Luqa was a very important base for British Commonwealth forces fighting against Italy and Germany for naval control of the Mediterranean and for ground control of North Africa. Air combat over and near Malta was some of the most ferocious of the war, and a series of airfields were built on the small, rocky island: at Luqa, Ta' Qali, and Hal Far, plus satellite fields at Safi, Qrendi and on Malta's second island of Gozo.

History

Second World War

No. 1435 (Night Fighter) Flight was first formed at Malta as a night fighter unit on 4 December 1941, by re-designating the Malta Night Fighter Unit.[1] In July 1942, personnel from No. 603 Squadron were equipped with the Spitfire V to form the unit.[2] After a brief period as No. 1435 (Fighter) Flight, at Luqa, due to its size it was raised to No. 1435 Squadron RAF on 2 August 1942 still at Luqa.[3][4]

RAFWeb writes that the original Malta "photographic reconnaissance unit was No. 69 Squadron RAF."[2] "B" Flight, No. 69 Squadron RAF was formed into No. 683 Squadron RAF on 8 February 1943. No. 683 Squadron flew Supermarine Spitfire Mark IVs, Mark XIs and later Mark XIXs. Just over eight months later, in November 1943, No. 683 Squadron moved to Tunisia.

Post war

After the war, Luqa remained an important RAF base, serving during the Suez Crisis of 1956, but also served as Malta's main civilian airport. No. 37 Squadron RAF, which had arrived from Palestine in 1948, left Luqa for RAF Khormaksar in Aden in July 1957. While four Avro Shackleton aircraft and the squadron's identity were transferred to Aden, two aircraft were left to join No. 38 Squadron RAF, still at Luqa.[5] No. 13 Squadron RAF began a long association, equipped with English Electric Canberra, moving to Malta in 1965 and remained in Malta until transferring to RAF Wyton in 1978.

No. 203 Squadron RAF disbanded on 31 December 1977 at Luqa, by which time it was part of No. 18 Group within RAF Strike Command.[6] It had been flying BAe Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft.

The RAF left in 1979 following a British government decision not to renew the lease on the station from the Maltese. The payments demanded were several times the previous payments under the previous lease. A No. 120 Squadron RAF Nimrod made the last flight out of Luqa on the morning of 1 April 1979.[7]

 
RAF Luqa in 1941.

Current use

Nowadays, the location has been developed into the main entry point of the modern, independent country of Malta, under the name Malta International Airport. It is sometimes still referred to as "Luqa Airport" or "Valletta Airport".

See also

References

  1. ^ Lake (1999), p. ??
  2. ^ a b Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation (RAFWEB). "No 671 – 1435 Squadron Histories".
  3. ^ Rawlings (1976), p. 511.
  4. ^ Halley (1988), p. 459.
  5. ^ Lee, Wings in the Sun, 1989, 207.
  6. ^ Rawlings (1984), pp. 206–207.
  7. ^ "StackPath".
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent: Air Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Rawlings, John Dunstan Richard (1984). History of the Royal Air Force. New York: Crescent Books. ISBN 978-0-517-46249-2.
  • Lake, Alan (1999). Flying Units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
  • Rawlings, John D.R. (1969). Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft ((2nd edition 1976, reprinted 1978) ed.). London: Macdonald & Jane's. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Luqa.
  • RAF Luqa Remembered

April 29, 2023
luqa, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, december, 2009, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, royal, for. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Royal Air Force Luqa was a Royal Air Force station located on the island of Malta now developed into the Malta International Airport RAF LuqaMaltaRAF LuqaShown within MaltaCoordinates35 51 27 N 014 28 39 E 35 85750 N 14 47750 E 35 85750 14 47750 Coordinates 35 51 27 N 014 28 39 E 35 85750 N 14 47750 E 35 85750 14 47750TypeRoyal Air Force stationSite informationOwnerMinistry of DefenceOperatorRoyal Air ForceSite historyBuilt1940 1940 In use1941 1979 1979 Airfield informationElevation78 metres 256 ft AMSLRunwaysDirection Length and surface05 23 Asphalt13 31 AsphaltIt hosted aircraft of Air Headquarters Malta AHQ Malta during the Second World War Particularly during the Siege of Malta from 1941 to 1943 RAF Luqa was a very important base for British Commonwealth forces fighting against Italy and Germany for naval control of the Mediterranean and for ground control of North Africa Air combat over and near Malta was some of the most ferocious of the war and a series of airfields were built on the small rocky island at Luqa Ta Qali and Hal Far plus satellite fields at Safi Qrendi and on Malta s second island of Gozo Contents 1 History 1 1 Second World War 1 2 Post war 2 Current use 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditSecond World War Edit No 1435 Night Fighter Flight was first formed at Malta as a night fighter unit on 4 December 1941 by re designating the Malta Night Fighter Unit 1 In July 1942 personnel from No 603 Squadron were equipped with the Spitfire V to form the unit 2 After a brief period as No 1435 Fighter Flight at Luqa due to its size it was raised to No 1435 Squadron RAF on 2 August 1942 still at Luqa 3 4 RAFWeb writes that the original Malta photographic reconnaissance unit was No 69 Squadron RAF 2 B Flight No 69 Squadron RAF was formed into No 683 Squadron RAF on 8 February 1943 No 683 Squadron flew Supermarine Spitfire Mark IVs Mark XIs and later Mark XIXs Just over eight months later in November 1943 No 683 Squadron moved to Tunisia Post war Edit After the war Luqa remained an important RAF base serving during the Suez Crisis of 1956 but also served as Malta s main civilian airport No 37 Squadron RAF which had arrived from Palestine in 1948 left Luqa for RAF Khormaksar in Aden in July 1957 While four Avro Shackleton aircraft and the squadron s identity were transferred to Aden two aircraft were left to join No 38 Squadron RAF still at Luqa 5 No 13 Squadron RAF began a long association equipped with English Electric Canberra moving to Malta in 1965 and remained in Malta until transferring to RAF Wyton in 1978 No 203 Squadron RAF disbanded on 31 December 1977 at Luqa by which time it was part of No 18 Group within RAF Strike Command 6 It had been flying BAe Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft The RAF left in 1979 following a British government decision not to renew the lease on the station from the Maltese The payments demanded were several times the previous payments under the previous lease A No 120 Squadron RAF Nimrod made the last flight out of Luqa on the morning of 1 April 1979 7 RAF Luqa in 1941 Current use EditNowadays the location has been developed into the main entry point of the modern independent country of Malta under the name Malta International Airport It is sometimes still referred to as Luqa Airport or Valletta Airport See also EditList of former Royal Air Force stations List of air stations of the Royal NavyReferences Edit Lake 1999 p a b Air of Authority A History of RAF Organisation RAFWEB No 671 1435 Squadron Histories Rawlings 1976 p 511 Halley 1988 p 459 Lee Wings in the Sun 1989 207 Rawlings 1984 pp 206 207 StackPath Halley James J 1988 The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force amp Commonwealth 1918 1988 Tonbridge Kent Air Britain Historians ISBN 0 85130 164 9 Rawlings John Dunstan Richard 1984 History of the Royal Air Force New York Crescent Books ISBN 978 0 517 46249 2 Lake Alan 1999 Flying Units of the RAF Shrewsbury Shropshire Airlife Publishing ISBN 1 84037 086 6 Rawlings John D R 1969 Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft 2nd edition 1976 reprinted 1978 ed London Macdonald amp Jane s ISBN 0 354 01028 X External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Luqa RAF Luqa Remembered Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RAF Luqa amp oldid 1152226513, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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