Royal Air Force Safi was a Royal Air Force maintenance base located on the island of Malta, which started life in 1941 as a diversion airstrip for the main operating bases such as nearby RAF Luqa. Other diversion airstrips similar in function to Safi were located at RAF Krendi and on Malta's second island of Gozo.
RAF Safi Maintenance Base | |
|---|---|
| Malta Near Ħal Safi | |
  RAF Safi Shown within Malta | |
| Coordinates | 35°50′30″N 014°29′30″E / 35.84167°N 14.49167°E |
| Type | Diversion airfield then Maintenance Base |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Now Government of Malta |
| Controlled by | Malta Industrial Parks Ltd |
| Condition | Extensively developed as a hangar site |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1941 |
| Built by | The Malta Police and Royal Hampshire Regiment |
| In use | 1943-1979 |
History
editSecond World War
editRAF Safi was constructed at a time when Malta was under intense aerial bombardment and Malta's Air Command needed to have alternative diversion airstrips on Malta, as the RAF's main operating bases were being bombed. Construction started in 1941 and the strips were ready for use in 1942.[1][2][3]
The base was officially inaugurated by AOC Malta Sir Keith Park in May 1943, but had been completed by 1942; it would remain operational throughout the War in the Mediterranean.[4]
Post war
editAfter the war, Saifi was reduced in function, becoming a maintenance base.[5] In April 1957 the then Maltese Prime Minister Mr Dom Mintoff requested that the UK Government consider turning over RAF Saifi to his government.[6] By 1961 the RAF maintenance facility at Safi was mostly civilian staffed and discussions in London were taking place about it being run down.[7]
The RAF left in 1979 following a British government decision not to renew the lease on RAF Luqa.
Current use
editWhilst Safi's runway has long gone the hangar and dispersal area have been extensively redeveloped and two large hangars constructed which are associated with the international airport at Luqa, which has absorbed the site. There is also a neighbouring aviation business park development.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Safi - Maltese History & Heritage". vassallohistory.wordpress.com. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ "Safi". www.forgottenairfields.com. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ Canwell, Diane; Sutherland, Jon (2009). Air War Malta: June 1940 to November 1942. Casemate Publishers. p. 83. ISBN 9781844157402. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ Allied, Newspapers (8 March 2017). "An evening of nostalgia for RAF base in Luqa". Times of Malta. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ UK, National Archives. "RAF Maintenance Base, Safi (Malta)". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ Studies, University of London: Institute of Commonwealth (2006). Malta. The Stationery Office. p. 175. ISBN 9780112905905.
- ^ Studies, University of London: Institute of Commonwealth (2006). Malta. The Stationery Office. p. 278. ISBN 9780112905905.
- ^ "Safi Aviation Park". www.mip.com.mt. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
External links
edit
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