 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2009) |
RAF Luqa | |||||||||
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| Malta | |||||||||
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  RAF Luqa Shown within Malta | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°51′27″N 014°28′39″E / 35.85750°N 14.47750°E | ||||||||
| Type | Royal Air Force station | ||||||||
| Site information | |||||||||
| Owner | Ministry of Defence | ||||||||
| Operator | Royal Air Force | ||||||||
| Site history | |||||||||
| Built | 1940 | ||||||||
| In use | 1941-1979 | ||||||||
| Airfield information | |||||||||
| Elevation | 78 metres (256 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
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Royal Air Force Luqa (or more simply RAF Luqa) is a former Royal Air Force station located on the island of Malta, now developed into the Malta International Airport.
It hosted aircraft of Air Headquarters Malta (AHQ Malta) during the Second World War. Particularly during the Siege of Malta from 1941 to 1943, RAF Luqa was a very important base for British Commonwealth forces fighting against Italy and Germany for naval control of the Mediterranean and for ground control of North Africa. Air combat over and near Malta was some of the most ferocious of the war, and a series of airfields were built on the small, rocky island: at Luqa, Ta' Qali, and Hal Far, plus satellite fields at Safi, Qrendi and on Malta's second island of Gozo.