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The maintenance wing at RAF Kalafrana operated as the logistical recycling centre for RAF operations in Malta throughout the war. Engines, electronics, airframe parts and armaments from damaged aircraft were recovered, stored, repaired if necessary and reused where possible. Recycling had become
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was formed at
Kalafrana on 27 September 1918 from 360, 361, 362 and 363 Flights as an anti-submarine unit flying patrols in the Mediterranean until the end of hostilities. 267 Squadron remained at Malta until being renumbered No. 481 Flight on 1 August 1923.
157:. It played an important role in both world wars, starting as a base for anti-submarine and anti-piracy operations, its role being expanded to include Air Sea Rescue (ASR) operations as aircraft usage and accident rates increased in the inter-war years.
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base was formed early in 1917 when a slipway and seaplane shed was built, a dockyard construction unit moving in by June 1917 to assemble seaplane parts brought in from the UK. By the end of July, five
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The DH9s formed the nucleus of Malta's first shore-based air element, increasing the islands all-weather anti-submarine capability. By
January 1923, a dedicated aerodrome was built at
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Between 1946 and 1979, the base was used by the Royal Navy as a general maintenance facility. The original site is buried under what is now the
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in 1940, both of which imposed severe operating restrictions in wet weather. In
October 1939, work began on an aerodrome with a paved runway at
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RAF Kalafrana also served as an ASR centre, operating several high-speed launches of various types. A secondary base at Ta' Veccia in
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With the formation of the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918, the RAF Kalafrana command was formalised under
Colonel C. Reynolds.
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critical to the war effort in Malta as the island's isolation increased with the southward shift of Axis forces in late 1941.
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in the ASR role. A detachment of Short
Sunderland Mk.Is from 228 Squadron based at
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Meilaq, Charles (19 April 2013). "Squadron flies through adversity to the stars".
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gave the maritime section greater coverage and reduced reaction times.
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on anti-piracy patrols for the benefit of
British shipping during the
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of the RAF Air/Sea Rescue unit returning to its base at
Kalafrana
421:. Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, UK: Paterchurch Publications.
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operated out of
Kalafrana between 10 June and 25 March 1941.
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was a seaplane operations centre on the southernmost tip of
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Help from the
Heavens: A History of No. 228 Squadron RAF
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between 1917 and 1946 when it was transferred to the
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489:Royal Air Force stations of World War II in Europe
186:two-seat flying boats. These were supported by
174:"Small America" flying boats were flown out of
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446:. Trafford Publishing. p. 106.
484:Royal Air Force stations in Europe
281:flying boats and a float-equipped
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391:"Sea Your History - Kalafrana"
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233:moved to Kalafrana operating
190:based at the grounds of the
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407:, accessed on 04/11/2012.
347:"History of 267 Squadron"
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182:seaplanes and two small
167:Royal Naval Air Service
161:Malta's operating bases
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231:701 Naval Air Squadron
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253:. By September 1937,
192:Royal Malta Golf Club
417:Evans, John (1998).
442:Heide, Lee (2000).
397:on 10 December 2009
217:Operations and role
85:35.8194°N 14.5425°E
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388:Sea Your History.
375:The Times of Malta
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279:Supermarine Walrus
261:was operating the
229:By December 1936,
114:Controlled by
297:High-speed launch
271:Short Sunderlands
267:Spanish Civil War
188:de Havilland DH9s
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393:. Archived from
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283:Fairey Swordfish
275:228 Squadron RAF
251:Fairey Swordfish
243:Blackburn Sharks
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109:Site information
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399:. Retrieved
395:the original
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355:. Retrieved
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247:Fairey Seals
239:Fairey 111Fs
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223:267 Squadron
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132:Site history
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277:along with
172:Curtiss H-4
137:In use
88: /
64:Coordinates
494:Birżebbuġa
473:Categories
401:4 November
357:26 January
330:References
326:terminal.
184:FBA Type A
176:Felixstowe
155:Royal Navy
76:14°32′33″E
73:35°49′10″N
140:1917–1946
207:Ta' Qali
300:HSL 107
203:Ħal Far
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353:. 2014
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27:Malta
196:Marsa
151:Malta
448:ISBN
423:ISBN
403:2012
359:2014
257:and
249:and
211:Luqa
165:The
101:Type
273:of
255:209
194:at
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338:^
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
