Members of Spitfire society visit Ta' Qali Aviation Museum

A group of 18 members of the Spitfire Society of Great Britain have just concluded a week's visit to Malta during which they called at the Aviation Museum at Ta' Qali.

The museum houses a Spitfire Mk. IX EN 199 which was retrieved from a scrapyard and restored by the museum's volunteers.

The Spitfire was the first plane exhibit when the museum opened in 1996.

Ray Polidano, director general of the Malta Aviation Museum Foundation is a member of the Spitfire Society for the part he played in the restoration of the aircraft.

The group included three former Spitfire pilots, among them Syd Moston, who actually flew the Spitfire exhibited at Ta' Qali museum.

Mr Moston had flown the Spitfire in Operation Torch when Africa was invaded from the Algerian side. The plan was to destroy the Axis forces opposing the British forces in the Western Desert and establish bases for the intensification of air and sea operations against the Axis powers in the European continent.

About 362 Spitfires arrived in Malta in March 1942, Joe Grima, custodian of the aviation museum said.

Spitfires which were considered the best fighter plane of the Royal Air Force had a short range and the planes had to be ferried on board aircraft carriers from Gibraltar and fly off north of Algiers after being fitted with external fuel tanks, Mr Galea said.

In their defence of Malta, the Spitfires were often outnumbered by Messerschmitts.

The group visiting Malta was organised by Syd and Mary Moston of the Northern Region of the Spirfire Society. The group was led by Air Commodore Jack Broughton, the national chairman of the Air Crew Association.

The association is made up of airmen who are entitled to wear a flying badge, among them pilots, navigators and air gunners.

"Such distinguished guests make it a point to visit the Aviation Museum, yet Maltese personalities do not find the time to visit, which is most disheartening for the volunteers who run the museum.

"Aviation museums overseas are great tourist attractions. The museum at Ta' Qali should get the backing it deserves," Mr Polidano said.

During their stay, the group visited the War Museum in Valletta, the Lascaris War Rooms and laid a wreath at the Air Force Memorial in Floriana.