ACQUISITION

(1943) RN Lodger unit

(1944) Transferred to RN on temporary loan in February

(1945) Full control transferred to Admiralty in April. Airfield under reconstructed and repair.

COMMISSIONED

01.04.1945

CLOSED

To C & M status 1947

PAID OFF

09.06.1953 and returned to R.A.F. control.

C.O./O.I.C.

Commander J.A.D. Wroughton, D.S.C., R.N.

FUNCTION

Satellite to R.N.A.S. Hal Far

Fleet Requirement Unit (728 Squadron lees pilotless planes, which will be operated from Hal Far).

Accommodation for 1 R.A.F. Squadron.

Minor aircraft maintenance. On loan from R.A.F

ADDRESS

R.N. Air Station,

Takali,

Malta

LOCALITY

The airfield lies near the centre of Malta, 4 miles W. of Valletta and one mile NE. of Rabat. Mosta lies. ½ mile N.

LANDMARKS

The town and harbour of Valletta. The Church dome at Mosta.

ROAD AND RAIL ACCESS

Access by first Glass read to Valletta distant 5 mile. (R), and to Rabat, distant 1½ miles (R). Accesses by road to all parts of the Island, but many of the roads are narrow and badly surfaced. No rail communication. Estimative port facilities at Valletta.

CONTROL

Control Building near centre on SW. side of runway.
Caution: Great care mat be exercised when landing, taking off or morning in E. and NE. winds, as velocities up to 70 knots sometime occur.

ELEVATION

 325' above M.S.L.

RUNWAYS

One, Tarmac.

13/31 QDM. 135° -315° .... 965 x 50 yds. 

* Runway extended to 2000 x 50 yds. post war.

LANDING AREA DIMENSIONS

835 ycls. NE/SW and 750 yds. NE/SW. T. landing area has a grass surface roughly oval in shape; Unserviceable after prolonged rains..
A total run of 2,000 yds. from NE. to Sw., can be provided made up of 965 yds. of runway, 853 yds. of grassed surface and 200 yds. of what was formerly tarmac runway, but at present in a state of disrepair. It is intended to mark the continuation of-the extension across the grass area by atones blocks sunk into the ground at 25 yd. intervals. The ground slopes down to NW. and SE. from the NW. end of the runway.

*Not valid after post war reconstruction.

TRACKS

A perimeter taxi-track, giving access to aircraft pens exists; where new construction is necessary, this track will have a width of 50'. Taxi-tracks give access to dispersed pens and hardstandings; where new construction is necessary, this track will have a width of 40'

OBSTRUCTIONS

Navigation

Rising ground to W., with hills rising to 668' within 1 mile W. of airfield's NW boundary, and Nadur Tower, (785'), distant 2 miles W. Hills rising to 738' distant 2¾ miles W.

Circuit  & Approach

The following are reported but their exact positions are red confirmed.
E ........ Chimney distant 2 miles.
SSE ........4 W/T masts, 100’ distant 3 miles.
S ........H.T. cable. 300 yds. from boundary, height 40'

APPROACH

None recommended. No station D/F facilities. Approach entirely visible.

WIND INDICATOR

Two windsocks, one 50 yds. N. of Control Building, the other on the N. boundary,
Illuminated portable landing T for positioning by side of duty runway.

HOMING - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

(1945) Landmark beacon (MA) and Occult at R.A.F. Luca.

(1948) Airfield beacon flashing red 'LU' at R.A.F. Luca.

HOMING--RADIO

D/F

(1945) H/F., VH/F. D/F to Island only available through R.A.F. Sector Control.

(1948) V.H../F.

Beacons

(1945) YG.

(1948) YG, YJI

APPROACH - VISUAL

By day

None.

By night

(1945) Portable night lighting (to be installed).

(1948) Portable night lighting (to be installed). Gosse Neck.

APPROACH - RADIO

None at Ta Kali. Radio compass beacon in position 35˚ 49' N. 14˚ 32' E.

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

M/F & H/F

 (1948) 3 transmitters, 6 receivers.

VH/F

 (1948) 6 transmitters,  6 receivers.

GROUND RADAR

None.

ACCOMMODATION

(1945) a new Camp for all personnel is to be built. At present, Officers’ quarters at St. Agatha's Convent, Rabat, Chiefs and P.O.'s at Tel Virtu Camp, Rabat, and ratings at the P.D.V. Hotel, Rabat.
(1948) new camps located SE and SW of centre of runway.

ARMOURIES

Adequate only for small station.

COMPASS BASE

One already exists; to be used for smell aircraft. A larger one, for twin engined aircraft, is to be made from concrete base of existing double pen.

DISPERSAL

(1945) Dispersal tracks, leading to pens; 26 pens for twin engined aircraft and 60 hardstandings for single engined aircraft exist. Additional hardstanding, to be constructed as required. Pens being removed.
(1948) 12 hard standings for single engined aircraft. Additional hardstanding, to be constructed am required.

HANGARS

None; aircraft to remain in the open or use pens that have been roofed in.

MEDICAL

Local facilities. Sick Bay: No bed accommodation except for immediate treatment of crashes. Hospitals: R.N.H. Bighi., 8 miles, 90th General Hospital 2 miles.

(1948) As above, with Bed accommodation:, 3 officers, 18 ratings, one isolation if extra staff available.

METEOROLOGICAL

Data supplied by meteorological Station in Valletta.
Prevailing winds approximately in the direction of the runway, light in summer.

FUEL AND OIL

Aviation -

(1945) 12,000 gallon underground storage tanks: 100 octane only.

(1948) Facility condemned

M/T -

(1945)1,000 gallon underground storage tanks.

(1948) 2,000 gallon underground storage tanks. A second 2.0000 gallon tank to be installed.

Oil -

(1945) 2,000 gallon tank and pump to be installed.
Stocks at present held in chums ;34A/32; 34A/114 and 34A/116

(1946) Nil.

TEST BASE

None

TEST BUTT

None.

WORKSHOPS

(1945) Four Dorland hangars to be erected for use as maintenance hangars. Workshop facilities to be provided by Mobile Workshop Unit using existing hardstandings and huts. Six "Compact C" portable hangars to be installed.

VISITORS

As directed by flying control.

BOMBING AND FIRING RANGES

Air to air

Firing range 100° Ta Kali 18 miles

727

Fleet Requirements Unit

Moved here from RN Air Section North Front 11.11.1944.  Disbanded here 07.12.1944

Equipped with 12 Defiant TT. & Swordfish.

728

800

802

807

809

810

815

820

Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron

Disembarked from H.M.S. FORMIDABLE 11 - 17 08.1943

Operated Albacore I

824

826

Torpedo Spotter Reconnaissance Squadron

Moved here from RAF Tafaraoui 10.07.1943. Disbanded here 16.10.1943

Operated Albacore I & Swordfish I.

828

845

881

882

885

Fleet Fighter Squadron

Disembarked from H.M.S. FORMIDABLE 31 .07.1943 to 21.08.1943

Disembarked from H.M.S. FORMIDABLE 30.08.1943 to 05.09.1943

Disembarked from H.M.S. FORMIDABLE 12.09.1943 Moved to RAF Sidi Ahmed 16.09.1943 returned 17.09.1943.

Re-embarked in H.M.S. FORMIDABLE  20.09.1943.

Equipped with Seafire Ib.

888

Fleet Fighter Squadron

Detachment (8) disembarked from H.M.S. FORMIDABLE 17 .07.1943 to 28.08.1943

Disembarked from H.M.S. FORMIDABLE 30.08.1943 to 05.09.1943

Disembarked from H.M.S. FORMIDABLE 12.09.1943 to 20.09.1943.

Equipped with Martlet II.

894

1728