September 2005, during the week of the
Malta International Air Show saw Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Merchant
Navy and British Army veterans who served on the ‘Fortress Island’
during WWII will link up with Veterans from the Commonwealth, USA and
Maltese veterans in a week of Commemoration and Celebration of the
60th Anniversary of the end of Malta’s Second Great Siege, Victory in
Europe, and the end of World War II.
Thursday 22nd September
With the bastions full of waiting spectators, the Spitfire and
Hurricane arrived in Grand Harbour at exactly 18:00 local time. The
aircraft flew a total of six passes through the harbour before flying
around the islands of Malta and Gozo as a pair and then around Malta
in formation with a Malta Defence Force Islander. Merlins were once
again heard and seen over Malta. The aircraft then went onto land at
the Malta International Airport.
Friday 23rd September
Rest day from flying
Muriel Pavlow was treated to a guided tour of the Lascaris War Rooms.
All the scenes of the war rooms in Malta Story were filmed in
studios in the UK so this was the first time Muriel had seen the real
plotting table. After the war rooms Muriel was taken up to the Siege
Bell.
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Muriel recreating a scene from Malta
Story at the plotting table |
Saturday 24th September
This years Malta International Air Show had many firsts - The
Spitfire, a Hurricane and a Messerschmitt 108. The Saturday show was
special because the Veterans were the guests of honour. They were
welcomed to their enclosure by an guard of honour. Their enclosure
next to the Spitfire, Hurricane and Messerschmitt 108 gave them a
perfect view of the Air Show and it gave the visitors the chance to
meet the veterans and see the visiting aircraft. The Spitfire and
Hurricane were the stars of the show. They took off together and flew
several passes together before they each performed a solo display.
Both aircraft taxied in to a stand ovation from the gathered crowd and
the veterans.
In the morning before the show Muriel was taken to the Home Front
Museum.
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The Spitfire and Hurricane taxi in at Luqa |
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©
Mike Tozer |
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"Guns
loaded" & "Onwards to Malta" |
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"Guns
Loaded" & "Fuelled" |
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© Bryan
Simpson |
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© Bryan
Simpson |
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Charlie
Brown in the Spitfire |
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Clive
Denney in the Hurricane |
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©
Mike Tozer |
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©
Mike Tozer |
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Sunday 25th September
Sunday's Air Show started off with rain but this cleared to provide
the visitors with another memorable day of flying. The Spitfire and
Hurricane flew the same display that they performed on Saturday and
they had an extra flight to perform that evening for the veterans that
were gathering at the rain soaked War Memorial in Floriana. When it
rains in Malta it rains and everyone in Valletta and the surrounding
area were treated to one of Malta's best. The roads were flooded but
the celebrations continued. The President and other dignitaries placed
wreaths at the foot of the memorial and a service was held. At 6:00
the rains cleared and the sound of two Merlin engines could be heard
in the distance. At 6:02 the Spitfire and Hurricane flew over the
memorial in a salute to the gathered Veterans. On the second pass over
the memorial the Spitfire dropped poppies over the memorial. Many of
these were collected and handed to the veterans.
Monday 26th September
Rest day from flying
Tuesday 27th September
With the Spitfire undergoing repair at the Airport it was the
Hurricane’s turn to fly. Howard Cook flew the Hurricane around the
island in formation with the support aircraft so that air to air
photographs could be taken.
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Howard Cook
taxies out for a flight around Malta |
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Rob Friar
and David Polidano work on the Spitfire |
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A very happy David
Polidano of the Malta Aviation Museum |
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Wednesday 28th September
On the Wednesday Veterans gathered at the Malta Aviation Museum for
the opening of the "Air Battle of Malta" hangar. At this time the
hangar contains the museum's Spitfire and Hurricane but it is planned
to add the Tiger Moth and the Swordfish. The hangar was opened by
Malta's President - Eddie Fenech Adami. Merlins Over Malta guest and
star of "Malta Story" Muriel Pavlow gave a speech and talked about her
time on Malta during the filming and her recent visit - Her first
since 1953. Once again, the highlight of the day was the flypast of
the Spitfire and Hurricane. They performed several passes as pairs and
then they split to perform solo displays for the guests.
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