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The Catapult Squadrons 1939 Kalafrana Malta

The Catapult Squadrons, 1939

701 Catapult Flight/Squadron Fairey IIIF
711 Catapult Flight/Squadron Osprey MK III
713 Catapult Flight/Squadron Osprey MKIII

This Diorama comes with a story. It took three years to be completed and I had to really look around and digest a lot of research to end up with what I had in mind. I only had a few pictures to start with , a line up of Fairey IIIF’s and Osprey MKIII the morning before the actual parade , and an aerial photograph of the hangars in Kalafrana Bay.

Kalafrana Seaplane base started operations in April 1917 and it was quite a busy place during the lull before the years when war was looming in the background. Various squadrons with a varied array of seaboats and seaplanes operated from this base since its inception.

With war becoming quite a serious threat, in 15th July 1936 it was decided by the British Admiralty to form these three catapult squadrons which in the nearest future were to be based at Kalafrana to enable surveillance in the Mediterranean to be more accurate ,frequent and effective. Malta being right in the middle of the Mediterranean was simply ideal for the job.

These aircraft were all inherited from shipboard units like 447 Catapult flight which were embarked on ships namely HMS Barham, Malaya, Valiant, Warspite, London, Devonshire Sussex and Shropshire. The seaplanes periodically performed flight duties on the above mentioned vessels until finally it was decided to permanently base these squadrons in Kalafrana.

This is were the research started ….I will explain the various parts of the Diorama which were included only based on the research gathered from various sources , then imagination was put to work. In 1939 ,when WWII was very imminent The Vice Admiral of the fleet paid a visit to Malta to inspect these squadrons A Parade was scheduled and made to effect to mark the occasion by the Royal Marines with the participation of a contingent from the Royal Airforce and Royal Navy. The Vip flew to Malta on a Warlus accompanied by a Swordfish floatplane.

Once a week two barges of coal were towed up to Kalafrana for the base’s boilers from another part of the island, hence I included them to give more life to the project. There was also a ship’s pilot boat that operated it’s duties from Kalafrana for shipping as well. After the parade The Vice Admiral paid his respects to the island’s Governor, hence the Police mounted escort and the limousine that awaited for him.

I always like to include a Maltese touch to my projects….hence the typical Maltese truck at the barrier.