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Scramble 1942

Qrendi Airfield Malta - Late 1942

It is hard to believe that during WWII in the little island of Malta which is only 19 miles long and 7 miles wide, there were 5 airfields and one sea base at Kalafrana. Another airfield was situated in Malta’s sister island Gozo which is even smaller.

One of these makeshift airstrips and later airfields was Qrendi Airfield. This airfield was built to divert some of the enemy’s attention away from Hal Far which was larger and a more important site. A large farmhouse was used as an operations centre and control tower where ground personnel could easily control the two intersecting makeshift runways.

In late 1942 Qrendi airfield housed two Spitfire squadrons, namely 229 and 249 squadrons. They both utilized Mk.Vb and c Spitfires. They were then accompanied in 1943 by 185 squadron using Mk.IX versions. These Spitfire squadrons concentrated their efforts on offensive and reconnaissance operations over Sicily. The squadrons moved over to Hal Far airfield in September 1943. Now nothing is left except for a few derelict little rooms here and there.

The model

All the Spits came from Airfix which were detailed extensively, scribed and modified to Mk.V versions. The Spitfire engine in the pen was scratchbuilt, as well as all the equipment strewn around the pen and the airfield. I tried to create a moment in time with the gallant pilots racing for their mounts with their commanders seeing them off… even the dog was there!!!

Airfix and Matchbox polythene 1:72 scale figures were used which were again altered and modified to different positions and stances.

A different array of vehicles were used and altered. One can easily note the modified Bedford crane, the petrol bowser and utility truck. It was not uncommon to have an anti-aircraft Bofors gun positioned so close to aircraft and personnel - space in Malta is very limited. Every inch of land was used to defend the island.

The building and the pen were fashioned out of balsa wood which were then covered in putty and scribed when dry. I tried to be as faithful as I could to the farmhouse portrayed. The rest - including trees, shrubs, groundwork, rubble walls, cactus trees, all came from Mother Nature (tea leaves) or putty.

This diorama stands at The Malta Aviation Museum with a few others.

References

Military Aviation in Malta 1915 1993, by John F Hamlin
Victory in the Air, by Richard J Caruana
Malta An Aviation History, by Alfred Coldman
Air war over Malta The Allies, by Fredrick R Galea