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Ta Kali
Ta Kali
Ta Kali opened as a military airbase in June 1940, it was handed over to the Maltese Government in 1963.
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World War Two
World War Two
Prior to the outbreak of WW2 Ta Kali 's role was that of a civil airport, its main customers being Italians. By the time Italy entered hostilities in June 1940 obstructions had already been positioned around the airfield to prevent enemy landings.
Ta Kali was a World War Two Royal Air Force station in Malta with lodger facilities for the Fleet Air Arm under the control of HMS St. Angelo, the local naval base.
On 20th November 1940, 261 squadron of RAF Hurricane fighters became permanently based at Ta Kali, having moved from Luqa.
The airfield was bombed several times by enemy bombers and Italian fighters strafed the airfield causing some damage to parked aircraft.
German aircraft began bombing the airfield in 1942 with Hurricanes and later Spitfires going up to intercept them. In May 1942 there was a great air battle and 65 enemy aircraft were destroyed.
Twin-engined Beaufighters began to operate from the airfield, attacking Tunisian airfields, enemy shipping and patrols against enemy aircraft. The Royal Navy contributed 828 squardron whose Fairey Albacores flew anti-submarine patrols and 728 squadron with Bolton Paul Defiants. 728 squadron remained until January 1944, when the airfield was transferred to Royal Navy ownership.
On 1st April 1945 the base was named HMS Goldfinch and began to be used in th late 1940's s a shore base for a number of Fleet Air Arm embarked squadrons, such as 802 with Seafires, 807 with Sea Furies (1949), 809 with Sea Hornets, 810 with Fairey Fireflies.
Firefighting teams were always ready to deal with any accidents which had to be carried out as fast and efficiently as possible. On a lighter note and to keep the firefighters in training inter-base competitions were arranged.
Firefighting competition presentation to the winners Te Kali (FAA)
Airbases on Malta
