Sixty years ago today saw the arrival in Malta of No. 78 Fighter Wing, Royal Australian Air Force, for peacetime garrison duty on Malta.
The ties forged with Malta through this unique event still live on in many ways
This was in response to a request by a number of Britain’s dominions for assistance because of the multitude of military commitments arising from the aftermath of World War II and the spread of the Cold War.
The Wing was comprised of No. 75 and No. 76 Fighter Squadrons, No. 378 Base Squadron and No. 478 Maintenance Squadron. It arrived on July 28, 1952 aboard the Asturias – a ship that carried many Maltese migrants to Australia.
One of the men forming part of the Wing was Edgar Busuttil, who had migrated to Australia on board this very ship only two years before.
The man chosen to command this unit was Wing Commander, later Group Captain, Brian Eaton. He had served in North Africa and Italy during World War II as Squadron Leader of No. 3 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force.
However, a bout of illness prevented him from flying to Malta and participating in the Sicily campaign.
At first the Wing was based at HMS Falcon, the Royal Naval Air Station at Ħal Far, where it was provided with Vampire FB9 and Meteor T7 jet aircraft.
Many of the pilots had seen combat in Korea before being posted to the Wing. While on Malta they participated in numerous exercises and training camps as well as representing Australia at the Coronation Review at Odiham in 1953.
That same year they also flew to Germany to take part in Operation Coronet − the largest Nato exercise held until then.
Upon returning to Malta, the Wing moved to the Royal Air Force Station Ta’ Qali, where it resumed regular garrison and training duties.
It regularly participated in the Anzac Day and Remembrance Day parades – as well as the activities held during the Royal Visit to Malta in May 1954.
One of the highlights of this visit was the dedication of the Commonwealth Air Forces Memorial in Floriana, at which the Wing formed half of the Guard of Honour.
The deployment came to an end with a farewell parade at Ta’ Qali in December 1954, which was attended by a number of distinguished guests who included the Governor, Sir Robert Laycock, as well as Lord and Lady Mountbatten.
The aircraft were returned to the Royal Air Force and the men sailed back to Australia in three contingents between January and February 1955.
As the deployment was to last two-and-a-half years, permission was granted for families and girlfriends to join the men on Malta.
A shortage of married quarters meant that most of the married personnel rented private accommodation around the island.
Over the course of two years, a number of men got married to brides from a number of countries, including Malta, and a number of babies were born.
Sadly, a number of babies did not survive and are buried in local cemeteries – together with an airman who lost his life in a tragic accident at Ta’ Qali in early 1954.
The ties forged with Malta through this unique event still live on in many ways.
Not only do the veterans of the deployment commemorate a period of service and friendship among themselves but many still eagerly follow news of Malta and cherish local friendships forged many years ago.
Some of these men, or their widows, have also made the long journey back with families and friends over the years to visit their old haunts and relive treasured moments of their lives.