The Qrendi airfield, better known as the San Niklaw airfield was originally constructed between 1940 and 1942. Its first military use was as one of the bases for the launch of the Invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) during World War II. All military operation in the site ceased in 1956 and it was later used as a thunderstorm location station until 1978.

A substantial part of the airfield complex survives, albeit not immediately evident. One of the two runways survives almost in its entirety while the underground power station for the supply of electricity to the complex is still intact. A number of aircraft pens are still extant, although they are somewhat different from other pens that were in use around other airfields during the war.

Mepa scheduled the surviving parts of the Qrendi airfield as a Grade 2 national monument as per government notice 22 dated January 10.