Kalafrana (& seaplane photos. See also the Sunderland & Walrus pages)
| Work started on the
Kalafrana seaplane base late in 1915 & progressed into 1916 with
the construction of hangers & slipways. Construction included a
shipment of materials which were destined for the Dardanelles. At the end of 1916 - 5 Curtiss H4 America flying boats arrived from Felixtowe. These were probably the F3 type. The F3 type (Felixtowe) was built later in Malta's Dockyard. In all some 23 aircraft were constructed here from kits. The first Felixtowe to be built was No. N4310 completed in November 1917. Other aircraft produced were No's - N4311 - N4321 & N4360 - N4370. In March 1917 - 3 Short 184 seaplanes arrived from Dundee to replace the 3 remaining Curtiss America's. In June 1917 2 Italian built flying boats arrived. One of these was forced to land in the sea 45 miles south east of Malta after warning a convoy of enemy submarines. This drifted to the African coast & was captured by Arab tribesmen. |
In the bay lay the sunken wreck of the Breconshire sunk in March 1942.
Kalafrana taken October 1936.
Photo courtesy of Norman Tarrant.
Nothing remains of the Kalafrana base today. It has
been built over by the container base.
Photo I took in 2008
London taking off.
Photo courtesy of R.Magee
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Photo courtesy of Cheryl Beasley |
Saro London Seaplane |
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Presentation of the units badge
by the Governer Sir Bonham Carter |
French Seaplane probably just
before the war. |
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Remains of a 'Queen Bee' after
naval target practice |
Remains of a 'Queen Bee' after
naval target practice |
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'The French Leading Machine' |
'The French Leading Machine' |
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Photo courtesy of Cheryl Beasley |
Photo courtesy of Cheryl Beasley |
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Italian mail plane taken prewar |
French Seaplane |
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Possibly the same aircraft type
as the one on the right |
Italian Flying boat crashed
in Marsa Bay, June 1935 |
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Boat used for refueling seaplanes.
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Probably taken at Kalafrana
as various seaplanes can be seen at the top. |
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Photo from the Malta Aviation Museum. Unknown date. |
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Sports Day 1939. Sam
Betton with hands in pockets. |
Sports Day 1939. |
Sports Day 1939. |
Taken at Kalafrana
? |
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These 3 photos are a bit of unseen history. Taken in 1938 it shows the evacuaton of RAF personnel from Kalafrana. Undoubtedly the MOD of the day saw a war coming & wanted to relocate personnel to the best advantage. HMS Maidstone to the right was at readiness for sea when these photos were taken. The back of these photos show their was a real panic on. HMS Maidstone can be seen elsewhere on the site as a submarine resupply vessel. All photos courtesy of Cheryl Beasley |
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The Kalafrana Harmonica Band. Christmas 1938 |
RAF Dance Band. Kalafrana Christmas 1938. |
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Mrs. Jacqueline Pettman (nee
Baker) has requested information or service photo of her father Warrant
Officer Edward Thomas Baker 327422 |
