Rest home for pilots

I can assure Robert Camilleri (Wartime Rest Home For Pilots, January 2) that RAF fighter pilots did have a rest camp in St Paul’s Bay during World War II when things started getting very hot for them.

I do not have a photo of the house nor do I know whether it still exists.

The house was on the main street at St Paul’s Bay where it levels off before starting its descent to Xemxija. It was on the right hand side of the street with access to the shore from the back. The number of the house opposite its front door was 109. I remember this because we used to joke about it – the poor blighters even have a 109 (ME 109 the famous Luftwaffe fighter) at their back while at their rest camp. It is most unlikely that it was called Palestrina.

Our regimental headquarters – 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Malta Artillery – was only some 200 yards away.