1970-1979

The accident involving a Bearcat on 03.09.47 reminded me of the following incident involving a Buccaneer and a Victor. No other details available.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQDN	SERIAL	NOTES
?	B. Buccaneer			Aircraft equipped with “buddy-buddy” refueling pack, which couldn’t be retracted. Landed at a slightly higher altitude to avoid the risk of hose being entangled with airport perimeter fence.
?	HP Victor			Aircraft blew tires on a main wheel bogey, and needed to be towed off the runway. Phantom squadron possibly 111 on an APC deployment at the time.
11.01.70	S. SH-3D Sea King	HS-11	156500/AA-000	Based on the USS Forestall. Damaged after making a heavy landing from hovering at 30 feet at Park 2, RAF Luqa.
__.03.70	A. Shackleton	203		Fire in No. 1 engine forced the crew to divert to Rome.
02.07.70	EE Canberra PR.9		XH170	Emergency landing on runway 24 after canopy blew off in flight, damaging fin.
19.11.70	McD F-4 FG.1	43	XV581/E	Diverted to Malta on Cyprus – UK flight. Made an arrested landing.
31.12.70	A. Shackleton	203	XF708	Aircraft suffered a pressure instrument failure in flight. A 13 squadron Canberra escorted aircraft back to Luqa. XF708 is now on display at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford.
18.08.71	Fiat G91	Italian AF		Aborted take-off from runway 24 and crashed through perimeter fence at RAF Luqa. No fatalities.
01.09.71	A. Shackleton MR.3/3	203	WR986/G	Written off Cat.5 (Scrap) 1.9.71 following the discovery of severe damage due to rat infestation. The aircraft was broken up at Safi, Malta.
31.10.71	W. Wessex	845/Royal Navy	XS481	This, and the following seven helicopters, sustained damaged by a tornado that hit Malta when they were parked at RAF Luqa. Normally based on HMS Bulwark. Also damaged were the following helicopters, all Wessex types. XS483, XS514, XT451, XT454, XT456, XT465 XT763/T and XT765.
06.01.72	W. Wessex HAS.3	Royal Navy	XP104	From HMS Blake. Fire alarm went off, and crew could smell smoke. Pilot chose to land in the sea rather than on land, due to possibility of fire. Flotation bags were inflated allowing crew to escape. Wessex remained afloat for 3 hours, but sank after one bag collapsed. The helicopter was later raised from the sea. The whole incident was photographed by a film unit nearby. This is probably the same unit which was filming an episode of “The Protectors”, and had made use of DC-3 N484F the previous December. (See Planes on Film page.)
03.03.72	W. Wessex HU.5	845	XS490/G/B	Undercarriage problems. See report below taken from the Jan/Feb 1974 issue of TAKE-OFF newsletter.

Accident Report

“Operation Exit” Incident by (David Spiteri Staines)

On 3rd March 1972, at about 11.45, a Wessex helicopter of 845 Squadron, developed a fault in its undercarriage and could not land without risking further damage. The pilot was instructed to remain hovering about two or three feet above the deck of HMS Bulwark, anchored in Grand Harbour, which the pilot very skillfully did for a grueling twenty minutes whilst the ground crew desperately attempted to repair the fault. This could not be done, so it was decided that the whole port side undercarriage be dismantled.

This was feverishly done by six members of the ground crew, whilst the pilot strove to keep the helicopter a few inches above the deck.

Having removed this undercarriage gear, the HU.5 flew off and circled around the harbour with only one side of the landing gear in place. Meanwhile the ground crew had tackled urgently the repair job and chopper was radioed to return.

The Wessex took up its former position whilst the fitters endeavoured to fix the undercarriage m its place. This rather dangerous job was completed in about ten minutes, after which the helicopter sank slowly onto the deck. The job was carried out perfectly for the gear held firmly and an exhausted but thankful pilot quickly clambered out. The Royal Navy had done another splendid job, and avoided serious damage being incurred to one of its helicopters!

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQDN	SERIAL	NOTES
02.01.73	L. C-130	Libyan Arab Republic Air Force	112	A number of crates were off loaded from the aircraft. A journalist photographing the proceedings, on identifying himself as a Times of Malta employee was detained for 40 minutes, but his film was not confiscated. Aircraft serial from photographs.
09.10.73	EE Lightning F.6	23	XR760/H	Undershot and hit approach lights during landing. Aircraft was with the rest of the squadron on a month long Armaments Practice Camp. Remained in Malta for repairs.
__.01.74	Cessna 206			Aircraft with 4 persons sent May Day message, 60 miles from Dhekelia, Cyprus. Malta-based 203 squadron Nimrod was diverted from patrol to assist and co-ordinate the rescue. Cessna passengers were picked up by an 84 squadron Whirlwind, whilst a private helicopter from Beirut was directed to the scene by the Nimrod crew. Passengers suffered slight bruising.
30.12.74	L. C-130	Libyan Arab Republic AF		Aircraft developed an in flight engine problem and landed at Luqa Airport. Departed on the 31st.
30.04.74				Military fuel bowser collided with a tractor, spilling gallons of jet fuel. See report below originally written by the late Joe M. Galea, in the September 1974 issue of TAKE-OFF

Accident Report

The weather was fine until about 15.30 local time. Civil park* northern entrance was closed for repairs. Exercise ‘Dawn Patrol’** in full swing – Park 3*** was being used by Buccaneers of 12 Squadron, ‘Old Sunspot’ housed Vulcans of 617 and 27 Squadrons, 203 Squadron Nimrods occupied Park 2, Canberras of 13 Squadron in their usual dispersals at Park 7. Yard 1 temporarily, and unusually, housed a chartered Condor B727, D-ABPI. The Buccaneers were due to return at any minute.

An Air Malta B720B (AP-AMJ) was pilot-training on runway 24. RAF Hercules C.1 XVI77 and Comet 2R XK655 had arrived, and were in the ‘Transit Yard’ (Park 4). BEA Trident 2E G-AVFJ and Alitalia DC-9 I-DIZO were inbound to Luqa. The B720B landed and stopped for crew changing at the 'holding point' of runway 24. Then it all happened!

The B720B took off again and continued its training sortie. The first interruption came from the landing of Buccaneer XT286 which, itself had to orbit. The sky in the meantime darkened. The Trident came in, droplets began to fall and the sky darkened still. The Comet finished its ground checks and taxied out to the threshold of runway 24 but stopped – engine trouble. It taxied into Park 1, then out again, but returned to Park 1 where it shut down its engines. The DC-9 was on its way in, and must have advised to orbit. The Hercules in Park 4 was nearing its ‘turn round’ time.

A military fuel bowser with two cisterns in tandem came from the direction of Yard 2 and a tractor approached from the opposite direction. Right under the (old) Control Tower, between Parks 1 and 2, the impossible occurred – they collided. A wide gaping hole in the rear cistern threw gallons and gallons of fuel onto the tarmac. The fire service was called in, and within seconds most of its vehicles were on the spot. As gallons of fuel poured from the bowser, gallons of water poured from the sky. Maybe a blessing to the fire service. The Air Malta B.720B still orbited. The Trident must have required ground vehicles, which could not be made available. Fuel spread quickly, foam splashed all around, water ran everywhere. The Condor B727 floated in a layer of foam, the Trident still awaited, the DC-9 was still in orbit, the Comet needed towing to Yard 4 where the Hercules, with engines running awaited taxi clearance. The Hercules switched off, the DC-9 came in to land, followed by Air Malta B720B. At Park 1, the B727 and the fire tenders around it looked like an Arctic mission, or a scene from the film ‘Airport’.

In the hour or so that followed, the Comet was towed to the Transit Yard, the Hercules, the DC-9 and the Trident departed, the weather improved, the sky cleared, the sun was shining again, everything was blue and bright and a strange quietness reigned all around. Tired but relieved faces could be seen. Was it a dream? If you do not believe this story no one will blame you, but a few can vouch for its authenticity. Sincere appreciation to all concerned for a job well done!

* Up to the end of British military presence in Malta on March 1979, only Park 8 was reserved for civilian traffic. Parks, or Yards, 1-7 were for RAF use. Enthusiasts in those days referred to Park 8 as the civil park or terminal. See LUQA AIRPORT page for a better description of the Parks mentioned.

** Dawn Patrol was an annual exercise, held for the last time in 1975.

*** Park 3 was usually reserved for Phantoms and Lightnings on their month long Armament Practice Camps, or APCs as they were commonly known. This involved the firing of colour-coded shells at a banner towed by a Canberra B.2 of 100 Squadron.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQDN	SERIAL	NOTES
30.01.75	HS Nimrod	203		Aircraft had been cleared for a landing, when two Libyan Arab Air Force Super Frelons flew across the Nimrod’s flight plan. Captain took evasive action, no injuries. I recall a similar incident involving an 11 squadron Lightning on the approach to runway 24, when an AFM Bell-47 (with floats) serenely crossed it path. This would be either October 76, or July 78, possibly the latter date.
28.07.75	L. F-104G	MFG-2	21+19, 21+25	Two-ship formation departed at 11.00 downwind on runway 24. Aircraft still at a very low height over 06 threshold, with the undercarriage leg of one of them hitting the crash barrier. No injuries, with the aircraft continuing on their journey.
14.10.75	Avro Vulcan	9	XM645	Aircraft touched down on the soil, short of the runway proper, shearing off the starboard wheel bogey. Took off again for another approach. Exploded in mid-air, and crashed onto Zabbar village. Five crew and one civilian died. ‘Lip’ of runway still chipped to this day.
04.06.76	B. Buccaneer	208	XT273	Aircraft suffered hydraulic failure after landing. Pilot steered aircraft off the runway onto the adjacent grass area, and tried to raise the undercarriage. One of six Buccaneers coming for the weekend. Remaining 5 aircraft returned to Sicily.
08.02.76	HS Nimrod	203	XV232	See accident report below, taken from Colin Pomeroy’s, No. 203 Squadron – The Malta Years.

Accident Report

On 8th of February, a Sunday, the Flt Lt Dicks and Crew 3 had another interesting sortie - but of a completely different nature! They were scrambled on SAR in Nimrod XV232 to search for a missing yacht north of Sardinia. The weather was poor with a cloud base of 1,000 ft and tops at 10,000 ft. Shortly after take-off severe vibration occurred in No 1 engine, accompanied by other fluctuations in the engine instruments. The engine was shut down and at 1,000 ft, shortly after entering cloud, No 2 engine started to vibrate and with similar indications. As these symptoms subsided when the throttle was closed this second engine was not shut down, but left idling, and the aircraft was leveled above cloud at 10,000 ft with the intention of jettisoning fuel prior to conducting a two engine landing back at Luqa. However before Master Engineer 'Chuck' Knight could initiate fuel jettison No 3 engine started to vibrate, giving the same indications as No 2. Once more the symptoms subsided when the throttle was closed, so No 3 engine was also left idling. Because the engines had developed similar symptoms in rapid succession, the crew diagnosed that the fuel system either contained air or was contaminated. Flt Lt Dicks realised that, in either case, they could possibly lose all four engines and told the crew to prepare for ditching. The proposed fuel jettison was cancelled and an emergency call made to ATC. The captain executed a rapid descent and positioned the aircraft at 10 miles on final approach for a radar glide approach in cloud with the co-pilot, Flt Lt Paul Fisher, advising ATC of their progress. However, when ATC advised that the aircraft was well above the glide slope (as Flt Lt Dicks intended it to be), his reply was to the effect "Well draw a line on your scope from our current position and we will come down it". The steep approach path was maintained with the use of single engine power and air brakes, the aircraft broke cloud at 1,000 ft, undercarriage and flap were selected and, at just below the emergency landing weight for the aircraft and only 20 minutes after takeoff, Flt Lt Dicks eased XV232 back onto Luqa's runway. For his flying skills and airmanship Flt Lt Dicks was awarded a "Good Show" by the AOC-in-C NEAF.

DATE	AIRCRAFT	SQDN	SERIAL	NOTES
07.02.78				A sonic boom is heard over the Maltese Islands, caused by an aircraft flying supersonically at a relatively low altitude.
14.07.78	EE Lightning T.5	11	XV452/T	Aircraft lost its braking parachute when landing on runway 24. Pilot abandoned landing, and asked for permission to land on the longer runway 32.
07.12.78	EE Canberra PR.7	13	WT530	Lost power after take-off from RAF Luqa due to fuel contamination. The pilot and navigator ejected, but a third airman, occupying the jump seat, perished with the aircraft. The aircraft had arrived the previous day from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus.