On the night of December 17 and 18, 1942, a Halifax II (DT542) of No. 138 Squadron RAF and assigned to the Polish Air Force experienced engine troubles soon after departing RAF Luqa. It crashed east of Żejtun at 4am with the loss of all seven crew (six Polish) and 10 passengers. All are buried at the Kalkara naval cemetery.

The squadron was assigned to the Polish air force to carry supplies and VIPs to the Polish Home Army although most of the times they were used for other missions – which angered the Polish authorities.

This detachment of eight aircraft was one of such missions and landed at Luqa from Egypt for refuelling before continuing to the UK.

May I ask anyone who remembers this crash to kindly forward any information they may have about this horrific accident on e-mail 203sqn@onvol.net so that I can further my research on the Luqa aerodrome.

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