RAF Takali

Type   146 Air Base
Historical Name of Location   Ta' Qali, Malta
Coordinates   35.895000000, 14.420833000

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe dry lake bed in the village of Ta' Qali, Malta was developed for civilian aviation in the 1930s. In Nov 1940, it became a British Royal Air Force airfield, known by its Anglicized name Taqali, later Takali. It hosted No. 261 Squadron RAF in Nov 1940. In May 1941, No. 249 Squadron RAF replaced No. 261 Squadron RAF. This airfield was subjected to heavy Axis bombing throughout the war. In Apr 1945, it was renamed HMS Goldfinch after it was transferred to the British Fleet Air Arm. In 1953, it returned to the Royal Air Force and was used for training purposes. The land was turned over to the government of Malta in 1963. The base was closed in Apr 1968. At the time of this writing, the grounds of the former RAF base host a national park, an aviation museum, and other recreational areas.

ww2dbaseSources:
Ronald V., "Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields in Europe"
Malta Aviation Museum
Wikipedia

Last Major Update: Dec 2014



RAF Takali Interactive Map

Photographs

Sea Gladiator Mark I aircraft at rest, RAF Takali, Malta, Nov 1940-May 1941; this aircraft was given to the people of Malta in 1943 as Aerial view of RAF Takali, Malta, 28 May 1941Aerial view of RAF Takali, Malta, Apr 1942; note bomb damageBeaufighter Mk VIF aircraft of No. 272 Squadron RAF Coastal Command at Takali airfield, Malta, 27 Jun 1943
See all 6 photographs of RAF Takali

RAF Takali Timeline

30 Oct 1940 Wing Commander J. R. O'Sullivan was ordered to form a fighter squadron at the civilian airfield at Ta' Qali, Malta.
8 Nov 1940 RAF Station Takali was officially operational on Malta.
20 Nov 1940 No. 261 Squadron RAF was transferred to RAF Station Takali.
16 May 1941 Wing Commander J. Warfield was named the commanding officer of RAF Station Takali on Malta.
1 Apr 1945 RAF Takali on Malta was transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Fleet Air Arm and was renamed HMS Goldfinch.
9 Jun 1953 HMS Goldfinch on Malta was transferred from the Fleet Air Arm to the Royal Air Force.
9 Dec 2011 A Tiger Moth aircraft landed on the concrete runways of the former RAF Station Takali on Malta. It was the first landing at this location in over 40 years; it was in preparation for the opening of the Malta Aviation Museum.




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Mr B Power says:
29 Nov 2017 04:59:55 PM

272 Beaufighter Sqd posted to Takali in November 1942
2. Frederick Napper says:
31 Mar 2018 06:20:06 AM

My farther worked at Takalie airfield as a traffic controller in the control tower for the fleet air arm HMS Goldfinch I am currently looking into
This period of his time in Malta and wonder where to look for photos of the airfield at this time- controlTower - accommodation mess rooms ect
3. SAC SMITH says:
15 Oct 2024 06:59:46 AM

Spent 18 months at RAF Takalie before it closed in 1963 and the 6 months at RAF Luca. We in the Fire & Crash Rescue Section at Takalie were their basically as the a crash strip for RAF Luca and it civilian aviation use. We had a great rugby team called Takalie Hawks almost unbeaten for 2 seasons. One of the RAF V Bombers used as ann air refueler went around the airfield for an hour or so, using up fuel whilst trying to retract its refusing hose. We thought our time had come! Luckily the aircrew managed to manhandle the hose in and an emergancy crash landing was averted. My old statilon and billet are now a craft village with our Nissan hut billiets converted to craft shops and the MT Depot is a museum. I’d love to hear from any old comrades Maltese or British who served there 1962/63. Am intending visiting Malta again for Christmas 2024.

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Modern Day Location
WW2-Era Place Name Ta' Qali, Malta
Lat/Long 35.8950, 14.4208
RAF Takali Photo Gallery
Sea Gladiator Mark I aircraft at rest, RAF Takali, Malta, Nov 1940-May 1941; this aircraft was given to the people of Malta in 1943 as
See all 6 photographs of RAF Takali


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