Colin Pomeroy & Bryn Wayt - See 203 Squadron Photo Gallery
Brian Crook - See 13 Squadron Photo Gallery
Others featured on this page are:
Paul Higgins / Lynda Gatt (nee Tait) / Mick Cundy / Joe Buttigieg / Denise Stuckey / John Zammit / Martin Powell / Colin Pomeroy / Bob Croton / Stuart Law / Colin Smith / Al Lacey / Carmen Watson (nee Bone) / Hector Farrugia / Derek Gare / Billy Brenton / Bob Ewing / David Rose /
From Paul Higgins - THE LAST VC10 TO LEAVE RAF LUQA - MARCH 1979
The picture was taken in on 30th March 1979, the day before the official British military withdrawal from Malta. It all seems like a very innocuous looking scene and as an episode in the long process of Britain's withdrawal from Empire, I don't suppose this event really merited even a footnote. And yet, as we were painfully aware at the
time, it represented the end of almost two centuries of history and if anything I find it even more poignant looking at it again over three decades later.
The lady on the right holding the Blue Ensign is my Mum, Rosemary Higgins, wife of Sqd Ldr B H Higgins, the outgoing OC SSS. The lady on the left is Mavis Hall, the wife of the outgoing Air Commander, A/Cdre H D Hall. The VC-10 in the background was the last RAF aircraft to leave what had hitherto been RAF Luqa (as I mentioned in my memories contribution. my Dad had handed over the station a few days earlier) and the group of people you can see to the right of the aircraft, waiting to embark on the flight home, are the last RAF personnel to have served in
Malta. My Dad is somewhere within that gathering.
As the VC-10 taxied away for take-off a few minutes after this photo was taken, a Libyan Arab Airlines Aircraft landed carrying two specially invited guests of Maltese Prime Minister Dom Mintoff – Yasser Arafat and Muammar Gadaffi.
N.B. - Dave Rose
The Mess Boards below were taken by Martin Powell but it seemed appropriate to put them in Paul's collection as his father is on the board, Sqdn Ldr B. Higgins.
Martin said - I took a photo of the RAF Luqa mess board (now on the wall at Ta Qali museum) and his Dad is on it.
time, it represented the end of almost two centuries of history and if anything I find it even more poignant looking at it again over three decades later.
The lady on the right holding the Blue Ensign is my Mum, Rosemary Higgins, wife of Sqd Ldr B H Higgins, the outgoing OC SSS. The lady on the left is Mavis Hall, the wife of the outgoing Air Commander, A/Cdre H D Hall. The VC-10 in the background was the last RAF aircraft to leave what had hitherto been RAF Luqa (as I mentioned in my memories contribution. my Dad had handed over the station a few days earlier) and the group of people you can see to the right of the aircraft, waiting to embark on the flight home, are the last RAF personnel to have served in
Malta. My Dad is somewhere within that gathering.
As the VC-10 taxied away for take-off a few minutes after this photo was taken, a Libyan Arab Airlines Aircraft landed carrying two specially invited guests of Maltese Prime Minister Dom Mintoff – Yasser Arafat and Muammar Gadaffi.
N.B. - Dave Rose
The Mess Boards below were taken by Martin Powell but it seemed appropriate to put them in Paul's collection as his father is on the board, Sqdn Ldr B. Higgins.
Martin said - I took a photo of the RAF Luqa mess board (now on the wall at Ta Qali museum) and his Dad is on it.
Lynda Gatt
Lynda came across these photographs which include myself (in the grey shirt). The young lady is Lynda (maiden name unknown at the moment), John Goulding and the chap with the moustache and black shirt is another John.
Lynda came across these photographs which include myself (in the grey shirt). The young lady is Lynda (maiden name unknown at the moment), John Goulding and the chap with the moustache and black shirt is another John.
John Zammit (Father was Guizeppi (Joseph) Zammit)
John's father worked with the British forces as a metal worker and was instrumental in the restoration of the Gladiator aircraft 'Faith'. John was kind enough to send me the following photographs of RAF Luqa which includes 'Faith' being towed after restoration, accompanied by the RAF band and Group Captain M. J. Armitage. 'Faith is now in the Malta War Museum, Valletta.
More photos were added in March 2011 RAF tal-Handaq and RAF Safi. This includes a letter from Group Captain Armitage to Joseph thanking him for his work on the restoration of 'Faith'.
More photos were added in March 2011 RAF tal-Handaq and RAF Safi. This includes a letter from Group Captain Armitage to Joseph thanking him for his work on the restoration of 'Faith'.
Mick Cundy
Mick visits Malta regularly and has posted a load of photographs of scenery, churches etc. Nice one of the bomb that pierced Mosta Dome without exploding.
He has also sent some photos from the Aviation Museum in Ta'Qali, see below.
Mick's photos are on Flickr.
This is the Link
He has also sent some photos from the Aviation Museum in Ta'Qali, see below.
Mick's photos are on Flickr.
This is the Link
Joe Buttigieg, RAF Police Flight, Luqa
Photo from Joe showing himself second from the left.
Denise Stuckey - Sent me these photographs of the GCA (Ground Control Approach)
My Dad, Cpl M E Dobson (Mac), is on the bottom right and 4th to the left on the bottom is Mick Forrow that applies to both photos!
N.B. from DJR - Anyone know any other names of the people in these photographs?
Martin Powell - Ex Tal Handaq Naval School.
Martin was at this school and mentioned a few names. If you remember Martin drop me a line and I'll forward messages on to him.
From Colin Pomeroy - Bahamas 1963 (This is also on the forum pages in 203 Sqn category)
Does anyone by any outside chance have any pictures of the 201 Sqn detachment from St Mawgan to the Bahamas from September to November 1963? The crews were captained by Rod Clayton, Cyril Hannigan, Mike Dark, Fred Fielding and Bob Hayward, with Wg Cdr Peter South as detachment commander. The aircraft were WR981, WR984, XF705 and XF706.
Bob Croton - Luqa camp views late 2010
Some good views of different areas of what was RAF Luqa. If I've got any of the descriptions incorrect please let me know.
Bob Croton - MTSS working on the fire section vehicles
Some photos from Bob with captions attached when photos are opened.
Four new photos added 17 March 2011 - Photograph of Cisk, Hop Leaf and Lacto beers, another 3 of the old 1151 MCU hangar and two of a launch, yet to be identified.
Edit - The launch turned out to be RSL 1654. See http://rsl1645.weebly.com
Four new photos added 17 March 2011 - Photograph of Cisk, Hop Leaf and Lacto beers, another 3 of the old 1151 MCU hangar and two of a launch, yet to be identified.
Edit - The launch turned out to be RSL 1654. See http://rsl1645.weebly.com
Tom 'Taff' McCarthy - Photos of familiar places in the modern Malta.
Taff and I used to knock around a lot in Malta in 72/73 but as I was sent back to UK on promotion he had to slum it with the likes of Bruce Robinson and Gill Roddy. I am really sorry I missed his wedding but the extra pennies I got as a Cpl were too tempting!
David Guest - ASF (Aircraft Servicing Flight)
Some photo's from David. Click on the photo to see the comments.
Phill Rose
Phill sent me this photograph that may be of great interest to those that were around in the early 50's (very early 50's!!). It is of the Nursery School, Malta, 1951. Please let me know if you recognise any of the children, or the big people, in the photo.
Phill also sent a link which points to some amazing early Pathe News footage, much of it of Malta. There's one of some aerial movie film of the island.
http://www.britishpathe.com/results.php?search=malta
Phill also sent a link which points to some amazing early Pathe News footage, much of it of Malta. There's one of some aerial movie film of the island.
http://www.britishpathe.com/results.php?search=malta
Stuart Law - Photos from the 50's and 60's.
Photos from Stuart of when he was a young lad and Shackeltons ruled the Med! I didn't remember the Friends Bar until I saw the sign that Stuart sent in and it's good to see a couple of photos of the camp, not many of them around.
I haven't added captions as many of them have something written on the photo itself.
I haven't added captions as many of them have something written on the photo itself.
Colin Smith - Armourer with 39 & 13 Squadrons
I was an armourer on 39 Sqn from 1960 to 1963 and then again briefly at Luqa on 13 Sqn in late 1971. These photos are a mixture from those dates plus some from subsequent holidays in Malta taken in later years - including one with a Maltese soldier who escorted us to the balcony I was in charge of as a young corporal.
Al Lacey - Peter's Pool, The White Horse & Kalafrana
Photos from the White Horse, late 60's, the 6th Fleet was in town! Recognise anyone? send me names so I can add comments.
Also, does anyone know what the notice says in the second photo?
There's also some photos of Service men & women enjoying the delights of Kalafrana and the Lacey family at Peter's Pool.
LOTS of aircraft photos from Al in the 'Aircraft' gallery page.
Also, does anyone know what the notice says in the second photo?
There's also some photos of Service men & women enjoying the delights of Kalafrana and the Lacey family at Peter's Pool.
LOTS of aircraft photos from Al in the 'Aircraft' gallery page.
Carmen Watson (Nee Bone)
The photographs in this group were sent from Carmen who lives in Toronto. The family emigrated to Canada in 1960 after Carmen's father worked in the NAAFI at Luqa, and before that in the Officers Mess at Siggiewi during WWII.
He was too young to enlist when the war first broke out, so he worked in the canteen at Siggiewi with the NAAFI - the picture of him with the two airmen was taken when he was 17 years old.
Even before that Joe Bone was a seaman and Carmen's mother used to hire a small launch to take the children out to his ship when he docked in Grand Harbour.
He was too young to enlist when the war first broke out, so he worked in the canteen at Siggiewi with the NAAFI - the picture of him with the two airmen was taken when he was 17 years old.
Even before that Joe Bone was a seaman and Carmen's mother used to hire a small launch to take the children out to his ship when he docked in Grand Harbour.
Billy Brenton - Sqdn Ldr in Malta during WWII
The detail about the search for Billy Brenton is on the forum, category 'Where are they' , but wanted to post the photographs here.
Anyone recognise him, or the name?
Anyone recognise him, or the name?
Derek Gare
Derek was with 39 Squadron and was lucky enough to be posted to Malta twice.
Hector Farrugia - Photographs of Malta air base
Hector contacted me after seeing a letter I'd sent to the Times of Malta. They had kindly published the letter and I had many responses. The photograph of the Valiants at RAF Luqa is, I would imagine, an extremely rare photograph. The Valiant had a relatively short life, due to metal fatigue in the wings I believe, compared to the Victor and the Vulcan.
Bob Ewing - Fire Section
Bob has sent me photographs of the fire section plus old and new buses. I remember the old, not the new! Plus a photo of the married quarter where he lived when his Father served on the Mechanical Transport section 1967 to 69.
People (David Rose)
Photos of people I knew in Malta 72-74. Bruce Robinson, myself, Jill and Tank Ashford, Tom (Taff) McCarthy, oh, and my Mum and Dad who came out December 1973 for a three week holiday. There were others but I don't have many photos of that time.
Photos of Places (David Rose).
RAF Luqa and scenes of Malta at that time. The first three are of the flat I rented, in Marsascala, with Bruce Robinson. Landlord was Reno Grech who worked at the Marine Craft Unit.
Sailing Club photographs are in the Sports gallery page.
Sailing Club photographs are in the Sports gallery page.
