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Hal far

An operational base for fighters - Hurricanes & Spitfires. The Fleet Air Arm also based Swordfish & Albacore Squadrons here.
Albacore aircraft arrived at Hal Far in October 1941 to join the Swordfish already stationed there.
Ark Royal delivered 10 replacement Swordfish on 16th October 1941.
Established around 1920 (possibly just before), shortly after Kalafrana. Closed mid 1960's.

Standing at the entrance to a hanger at Hal Far airfield. On the far left is John William Tully - Leading Aircraftsman (AC1). John was stationed on Malta 1935-37 & is thought to have taken the following photos. He served on HMS Glorius.
Sadly John went down on HMS Courageous which was later sunk on September 17th 1939 in the Western Approaches by U-29. See website here:-
http://www.uboataces.com/battle-courageous.shtml

Hal Far 1938-39. Sqn Ldr (later to be)
Wilfred Timms on left.

Photo courtesy of Maureen Teulier

Hal Far camp.

The following photos are thought to have been taken between 1935-37 (pre-war).
Hal Far airfield can be seen as the clear area middle/right.

Photos courtesy of Norman Tarrant.

Hal Far 1937-39.
Photo courtesy of Maureen Teulier

Hangers on Hal Far airfield.

Circling Hal Far.

Cliffs with Hal Far airfield behind.

Hal Far airfield from the air.

802 Sqn radio room « Pompy » Turner left, « Nobby » Clark.
(Note – Clarks were usually nicknamed « Nobby ») .

Photo courtesy of Maureen Teulier

Timms front seat, Turner driving. Car – Austin 8, 4-seater tourer
Photo courtesy of Maureen Teulier

Kenneth Hugh Percival (Glorious casualty 1940) back seat. Timms driving. Tom Johnson front passenger. Car Talbot 10
Photo courtesy of Maureen Teulier

 

Turner & Clark, Hal Far.
Photo courtesy of Maureen Teulier



3F crashes during a night flight. June 1935.
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant

Vancias first stop on the way to India. May 1936.
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant

Vickers Wildebeest torpedo bomber. October 1935.
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant

74 (TG) Squadron line up. October 1935.
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant

Baffin which took off in tight formation force lands in a Monastery near Hal Far. July 1935.
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant

Wildebeest crash. August 1936.
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant

Hal Far Airfield.

Photo courtesy of Cheryl Beesley

In November 1936 the airfield suffered strong winds (cyclone). This is mentioned in the book 'Carrier Glorious' by John Winton (page 60). No photographs accompanied the text.
Aircraft & hangers suffered severe damage as depicted in the following photos.

Photos courtesy of Norman Tarrant


Hal Far Airfield.
Photo courtesy of Roberto Benetti.
http://www.flightlinemalta.com

Hal Far taken in 1956
Photo courtesy of Jason Pisani.

The link below is a satelite imageof modern day Hal Far.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&q=&ll=35.815308,14.515085&spn=0.023943,0.039568&t=k&z=15&om=1

Squadrons based at Hal Far included:-

185 Squadron

 

Army units stationed
Devons


In January 1942 the airfield along with Ta'Kali became waterlogged after heavy rains & all fighter aircraft were moved to the bomber field at Luqa.