Kerry, thank you for the pictures of the posting I never had.....I was posted there in the mid '70s from Buchan (possibly as your relief?) but Joan Hopkins (the OC Ops) talked me out of going...gullible or what!

You look very smart in your No1

Richard Jenner

I can just about remember the various detachments during my time at Madalena, they were certainly the highlights of an otherwise pleasant but uneventful tour.  Lord knows how many brain cells were destroyed on some of the evenings out in Sliema.

I think that Ralph Bowler took over as CO after Joe Salt retired and that Martin O'Carroll replaced self as Ops Officer - but I could be wrong.   Happy daze!

You are right about Martin O'Carroll, as I replaced him.  I'm not sure about Ralph as Aubrey Spencer came as  OC shortly after I had arrived.

Thanks for the piccies Kerry...takes me back. I well remember those night shifts with Plez. I was a pimply-faced, impressionable shiny new Plt Off then...(some would argue little change....). Plez may remember that we had a 'useful' Italian phrase in chinagraph on the console for use with Martina Franca..."Iss alla gonta worms"    Happy Days.  PS. Kerry - Is that your microlight?

Kerry! How the devil are you!

You are quite correct in your recall. Ralf Bowler did replace Joe Salt and I took your place. Ralf had to leave about half way through his tour due to the loss of his father and mother as I recall. I ended up running Madalena for three months until Bob Livingston arrived.

I had actually done a detachment there with 23 Sqn and Tony Ples the year before -  1974 I think. I think Dave Taylor and Bob Griffiths may have been with us on that one as well - not sure about that.

I really enjoyed my time there and I am certain a lot of brain cells went west due to the social life that went along with every detachment.

I would very much like to get some copies of those photos. can I download them from somewhere?

Glad to see you're enjoying yourself. The Thruster is a great microlight. I am currently flying a paramotor!

Hi Kerry Joe Salt was my father I have the photo at Madalena on my wall he was very happy the time he spent at Madalena

Elizabeth McGowan

Well, well. 

I've just returned from a week on Malta, my first since going to the island from Buchan in '78 on a Trembler's APC - possibly the last F4 det to Luqa, IIRC.  I promised the newly-wed Mrs G that I'd take her there one day.  Better late than never, eh? 

Malta still wears its history on its face.  The RAF buildings at Luqa now appear to be the HQ and home base of the Maltese Defence Forces.  Taxiing in on arrival, I was surprised and chuffed to see a VC10 on the pan, presumably the AT for the UK military bands performing at the Tattoo that weekend.

'Chains' restaurant is still in business albeit with shiny new facilities.  Their steak and onion ftira appears sadly to have been deleted from the menu.    Still, plenty of excellent feeders to choose from in St Julians.

Unfortunately the tours of Fort Madliena only take place on Saturdays (courtesy of the Maltese St John's Ambulance folks) so I didn't get chance to walk the ground there again.  Many happy memories, though, not least being told by Aubrey Spencer that I was being posted to 280SU soon after the end of the det!  On the down side, I'd just spent the last of my KD allowance on beer having done most of the det in blues.  Doh! 

Happy daze!

Mike

Hello David

Other than the difference between Members and non-Members, everyone is equal on this Board, so thank you for your memories and reminiscences. Please feel free to post here in a similar vein again and, if you have any, point us to a couple of photos, perhaps?

Best wishes

Jan

Greetings from a 'fish head',
I disembarked from HMS ARK ROYAL in a Phantom to RAF LUQA and then spent the following few weeks controlling 892NAS from Madalena in 1973, Also a Chief Controller at RAF Buchan (73 - 76), before returning to the 'dark side' and Type 42 Destroyers/Falkland War etc! In fact Kerry, I remember you from both Madalena and Buchan - was it really that long ago?? Regards to all - Dick

This photo was taken few weeks before RAF MADLIENA CEASED OPERTIONS.