Second World War RAF Krendi was constructed at a time when Malta was under intense aerial bombardment and Malta's Air Command needed to have alternative diversion airstrips on Malta, as the RAF's main operating bases were being bombed. During construction the airfield at Krendi was used as a decoy for other main bases on Malta, switching on runway lighting as enemy bombers approached. The station opened on 10 November 1942 and received its first squadron of Spitfires a few months later. The base was officially inaugurated by AOC Malta
Sir Keith Park in 1941; it would remain operational throughout the war in the Mediterranean. In February 1942, RAF Krendi appears to be acting as a decoy site for RAF Luqa. Weblog entries from RAF veterans based at RAF Krendi quote the following RAF fighter squadrons as being based at the airfield: •
185 (Fighter) Squadron RAF was equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vc (5 June 1943 – 23 September 1943) •
229 (Fighter) Squadron RAF was equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vc (10 December 1942 – 25 September 1943) •
249 (Fighter) Squadron RAF was equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vc and later Mk IX (23 November 1942 – 24 September 1943). No more Spifires or other RAF fighters were based at RAF Krendi after Autumn 1943. Reduced in terms of operational functionality, in 1953 it would become a vehicle storage area for
British Army units. The base would also remain a weather
radiosonde tracking station in the 1960s. The RAF left in 1979 following a decision not to renew the lease on RAF Luqa. ==Current use==