Page 32 - World Airnews Magazine April 2020 Edition

MAVIO

LOOKING BACK: THE LIBYAN

MILITARY MISSION IN

MALTA BEGINS

Report by Marvic Bugeja / Chris Cauchi

he first helicopters to join the armed forces of Malta
Twere donated by what was then known as West Germa-
ny way back in 1971.
As a result of this gesture of goodwill on part of this pro-west-

ern country, the government issued a call for applications which
was open to both policemen as well as personnel within the
armed forces of Malta.
The new recruits were to join the first batch of pilots and techni-

cians on the elementary Bell 47G-2. Four helicopters were donat-
ed and were all operated by the armed forces of Malta or AFM.
The political decision was also taken that the Malta police

force would have no air unit of its own but would instead rely on
In his career Lt Col Smith has flown a number of the support of the AFM.

dignitaries as well as the jet set. Here he is seen World Airnews met up with now retired Lt. Col. Joseph Smith

with President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami who was part of the initial batch of Maltese pilots to be trained

on the very basic helicopter.

Lt. Col. Smith went on to fly five different types within the AFM

Air Wing before concluding his flying career on the Agusta Bell
212 of the Italian Military Mission in Malta in 1998.

He explained that the Italians initially brought the AB204, but
pilots were wary of conducting search and rescue sorties over

large expanses of water with a one engine helicopter, so they
demanded a twin engine machine that would give pilots and
rescuers a higher margin of safety in critical situations.

After high-level discussions at political level, the Italians even-

tually acceded to this demand and stationed Agusta Bell 212s

from 1987 onwards.
During our interview Lt. Col. Smith made a number of very

interesting revelations related to some ‘very hot topics’ were
Lt Col Smith is seen posing for the camera just often overlooked by aviation buffs.

prior to taking delivery of the two Nardi-Hughes The first ever helicopter rescue by the AFM was carried out in

369 from Guardia di Finanza in mid-1992 1972 – when the armed forces of Malta air wing was not yet
fully operational.

Despite this, the brave men within the unit were called into

action after a British man was carried out to sea by huge waves

which were battering the western coast of the island, close to
the famous Blue Grotto.

The Bell 47G-2 captained by Lt. Col Joseph Smith and his co-pi-

lot Charles Mansueto flew to the spot, battling strong winds and

10 metre high waves with very little room to manoeuvre in such

treacherous conditions.

The only thing they had available was a “salva uomo”, which
the co-pilot threw to the Englishman in distress. Luckily, thanks
to the above average piloting skills of Lt. Col Joseph Smith

and his co-pilot’s quick thinking, the life saving floating device

ended within reach and the hapless swimmer held onto it until
an armed forces of Malta patrol boat picked him up some 30
minutes later.

Often overlooked by aviation historians, it is worth noting

that Malta was the only European country to ever host a Libyan
CEO Marvic Bugeja is seen interviewing Lt Col Joseph military mission on its territory.
Smith on the MAviO TV set. MAviO TV is a web based This started in 1977 and came to an abrupt end in the early

platform wholly dedicated to the aviation scene in Malta eighties after the relations between Malta and Libya turned sour
World Airnews | April 2020
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