Rare sound deflector, air raid siren salvaged from Mosta school

An original WWII air raid warning siren and the only known surviving sound deflector were this afternoon salvaged from the top of the clock tower at the MCAST building in Targa Gap.

The operation was carried out using a 150 feet crane. Both items will be restored and displayed at the Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna's new Malta at War Museum at Couvre Porte, Vittoriosa.

Electrical sirens were used in WW2 to announce the approach and departure of air raiders. There were 14 examples in operation all over the island.

They were distributed mostly around the inner-harbour area which was at the time the most densely built and populated.

Portable manual sirens were used when no power was on and these were operated by the police from their police stations and occasionally the ARP.

The signal to sound the "Air raid warning" or "Raiders passed" was given by the Controller at RAF Fighter Operations at the Lascaris War Rooms.

This would take place as a result of data received from the RAF radar system in operation at the time along with other information received from the RAF Observer network distributed at four vantage points on the island.

Sirens emitted a warbling sound for a signal with three very loud wails to signify an approaching raid a long protracted wail to indicate the end of a raid. The public was expected to stay indoors for at least ten minutes after each raid to avoid getting injured from falling debris from the sky.