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Friday, March 29, 2024 Military Aviation » Malta-based » Royal AF » Malta Communications Flight  
 
Malta Communications & Target Towing Flight

A number of aircraft flew with this unit, and these are being reproduced below.
        
 
B. Beaufighter

SERIAL TYPE C/N HISTORY NOTES
RD788       First listed on 19.11.57. Last flight on 10.10.58 to RAF Luqa, then to RAF Safi for breaking up.
RD850       First listed on 19.11.57. Last listed flight on 05.08.58.
RD867       Arrived from RAF Benson, first flight with MCF on 14.11.57. Last flight on 07.08.58. Dismantled and taken to Civil Defence HQ at Targa Gap, limits of Mosta.
        
 
DH Devon

SERIAL TYPE C/N HISTORY NOTES
VP953       Received from 27 MU, RAF Shawbury on 16.09.58. Last known flight on 13.12.60.
WB530       Received on loan from RAF Safi on 31.10.60. Last flight on 16.05.62.
WB535       Received from RAF Shawbury on 02.11.58. Last flight on 14.07.63 when it was flown to RAF Shawbury for disposal.
        
 
DHC Chipmunk

SERIAL TYPE C/N HISTORY NOTES
WD378       First flight with the MCF was a test flight on 16.01.58. Returned to RAF Liaison Officer, Rome on 07.03.58.
        
 
DC-3

SERIAL TYPE C/N HISTORY NOTES
KK129 C-47B-15-DK 15140/26585 43-49324 D10Nov44 - KK129 RAF Montreal 17Nov44 - 300 Wg 03Mar45 - 45 Gp - 243 Sq VMYAC - 1381 (T) CU UK 25Jun46 - 240 OCU 19Feb48 - Oakington TC 30Apr48 - 53 Sq - 1 P>S 280ct49 - 27 Sq 02Mar50 - 22 MU 09Nov50 - Malta Comm Flt 02Dec54 - 22 MU 13Aug56 - 1325 Flt Dishforth 17Sep56 - 22 MU 15Apr57 - B/u 29May57 Bovingdon.  
KN279 C-47B-20-DK 15770/27215 43-49954 D24Jan45 - KN279 RAF Montreal 30Jan45 - UK 01Nov45 (dam in transit) - 16 FU 28Feb46 - Naval CinC Malta 27Apr46 - (Malta Comm Sq) - 22 MU/UK 17Apr50 - G-ANAD Transair Ltd 23Jun53 - VR-AAI Aden A/W "Ghuraf' 17Mar54 - F-OCKX Air Djibouti R27Aug68 - N9985Q Visionair Intl Inc 14Aug76 - Urban Drew, Khartoum R04Nov76 - Used in film "A Bridge Too Far" - Caprivi A/W Lsd Jan79 - African Air Carriers Ltd 1981 - Canx (Dec82) - Std Lanseria until 1985 - Donated by Interocean Airways to Dakota Assoc of S Africa 01 Feb86 as clubhouse. - Whereabouts unknown.  
KN452 C-47B-30-DK 16175/32923 44-76591 D 26 Mar 45 - KN452 RAF Montreal 27 Mar 45 - 76 Sq 14 Apr 45 - ACSEA 19 Sept 45 - 30 Sq - 22 MU/UK 12 Dec 47 - TC Exam Unit 15 Mar 55 - Stored - Coastal Cmd Comm F lt 24 Oct 56 - Stn Flt N Front 19 Nov 56 - RAF Malta 10 Nov 60 - Queen's Flt 16 Jan 61 - HQ ME Comm Flt 10 Mar 61 - 21 Sq Khormaksar, Aden 21 Aug 65 - 5 MU 06 Nov 67 - Displayed RAF 50th Anniv display, Abingdon Jun 68 - SOC 22 Jul 69 - G-AXJU Shackleton Avn Ltd R 14 Jul 69 - 5Y-AKB Kenya Police 15 Jan 70 - Lion Intl Sales, Vaduz 22 Oct 74 - N62303 Aero Svce Corp, Houston, TX Dec 74 - Airfast Svce (Pvt), Singapore 1977 – Spares 1977 - Canc 28Feb78 – Br up at Seletar 1977. Arrived from the UK on 13.11.60 as replacement for VIP Valletta. Returned a month later to the UK on 14th December, as aircraft was needed by the Queen’s Flight. This aircraft would again be seen in Malta as 5Y-AKB (1970) and N62303 for servicing at MIACO between 1976-77.
KN598 C-47-35-DK 16491/33239 44-76907 D09May45 - KN598 RAF Montreal 09May45 - ACS EA 20May45 - 48 Sq 11Jan47 - 110 Sq 130ct48 - SHQ Changi 13Sep49 - FEC Sq 22Apr50 - 110 Sq 12Sep50 - 22 MU/UK 15Nov51 - Comm TT Sq Malta 01Apr55 - 22 MU 30Jun56 - 1325 Flt 'B' "Coral Queen" 20Dec56 - Changi 16Mar59 - Pl-C488 Philippine AIL B11Aug60 - Nth Camarines Lumber Co (NORCAMCO) (Jun71) - RP-C488 Rr 1973 - Swiftair "Geraldine" (Nov73 - Dam 14Jan74 Jolo, Pl - Rebuilt - RP-C860 Swiftair "Maria Aurora" (1976-78) (possibly used parts of Pl-C860 c/n 19003) - Derelict Zamboanga (1981).  
KN645 C-47B-35-DK 16587/33335 44-77003 021 May45 - KN645 RAF Montreal 22May45 - 2 TAF CS 02Jun45 - used by F/M Montgomery- BAFO CW - 12 MU 15Jun51 - Malta CS 11Jan54 - Hendon 08Aug55 - 22 MU 30Dec58 - Queen's Flt for Indian tour 13Jan61 - Northolt 09Mar61 - Allied Forces N Europe, Oslo 18Feb62 - Min Tech 20Sep67 - AFNE 01 Dec67 - 5 MU 03Apr70 - NEA 10Jan72 - RAF Colerne 01May74 - Painted as 'KG374' (in memory of Flt Lt Lord who won VC at Arnhem) - RAF Museum, Cosford. 12.06.63
KN647 C-47B-35-DK 16590/33338 44-77006 D23May45 - KN647 RAF Montreal 25May45 (Dakota VIP 4) - UK 30May45 - 2 TAF CS 30Jun45 - BAFO Comm Wg 180ct45 - 22 MU 10Mar48 - Bassingbourn TC 26Jan49 - 24 Sq 23Mar50 - 30 Sq 29Nov50 - 22 MU 030ct51 - CFS - Malta CF 23Sep53 - Flew into high ground near Nairobi, Kenya 21Jun54. Aircraft flew into high ground at night on 21 June 1954 near Nairobi, Kenya.
        
 
Gl. Meteor

SERIAL TYPE C/N HISTORY NOTES
WF772 T.7     Aircraft was on loan from the aircraft pool at RAF Safi. First listed on 21.03.58, returned in May 58. Again loaned to the TTF in November of the same year, returning to RAF Safi on 02.12.58.
WG964 T.7   Category 2 damage on 17.03.58 (see accident page). First listed on 14.11.57. Last flight on 26.06.62 to RAF Luqa, then transferred to Safi. Listed as life expired.
WH256 F.8     First listed on 15.11.57, last flight listed on 26.05.59.
WH364 F.8     First listed on 02.09.59. Flown to RAF Luqa and placed in reserve at Safi on 06.10.60. Again flown by the TTF on 19.10.61. Ferried to RAF Kemble on 17.08.62.
WH401 F.8     First listed on 04.01.58. Last flight was a ferry flight to RAF Lyneham on 12.12.61.
WH402 F.8     Allotted to TTF, first flight listed on 29.09.60. Last flight was a ferry flight to RAF Kemble via Lyneham on 16.08.62.
        
 
P. Pembroke

SERIAL TYPE C/N HISTORY NOTES
WV734       Aircraft arrived from the UK on 22.10.57. Remained with MCF until 30.10.58 when it was flown to RAF Luqa for storage at Safi.
WV736       In Malta between 16.10.57 and 11.12.58 when it was flown to the UK.
WV742       In Malta between 23.11.57 and 25.02.58.
WV743       On loan to the MCF from RAF Habbanyia
        
 
V. Valletta

SERIAL TYPE C/N HISTORY NOTES
VW150       Arrived on 20.12.63 as a replacement for VX539. In Malta until 21.04.64.
VW831       Listed between 24.11.57 and 28.11.61
VW836       Arrived from RAF Benson on 21.12.60. Last mentioned on 19.05.61.
VW856       Mentioned between 25.05.61 and 03.04.68.
VX539       In Malta between 01.05.62 and 02.09.65
VX574       Between 15.10.57 till 26.01.68
VX577       Arrived from RAF Akrotiri on 27.10.58 as a temporary replacement for VX574 (departure from Malta unknown). Again arrived on loan from 70 squadron, again as a replacement for VX574, which was undergoing maintenance. Departed for No. 5 MU, RAF Kemble, on 19.09.63.
WJ479 T.3     Arrived from the UK on 17.07.59. Allotted to No. 5 MU, RAF Kemble on 06.02.60.
        
 
13 Squadron 37 Squadron 38 Squadron 39 Squadron 73 Squadron 185 Squadron 203 Squadron 222 Squadron 283 Squadron 1357 Meteorological Flight Malta Communications Flight
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