An emotional and enjoyable ‘reunion’ took place last Saturday at San Lawrenz, Gozo, when the relatives of a World War II RAF pilot, who crashed his Spitfire at Dwejra some 80 years ago, met with Gozitan families connected to the dramatic events of the morning of the 27th of March 1943.

It was on that day an injured pilot was rescued by men based at the nearby tower and treated by medical staff on duty.

Travelling from the UK specifically for the ‘reunion’ event, the daughter and two grandchildren of RAF Flight Sergeant Percy (Bill) Stratford, originally from Dannevirke, New Zealand, chatted with invited guests and listened to talks from guest speakers.

Speakers included local historian Charles Bezzina who looked at daily life on wartime Gozo during those difficult times. Simon Wallace, a volunteer based at Dwejra Tower shared details of tracing the pilot and the plane through local and online archives and Matthew Curmi from Nadur, who is also currently writing a book about all plane crashes in Gozo during WWII and interviewing older Gozitans to record their memories of that time.Marlene Spicer, the pilot’s daughter generously shared some precious memories of her late father with the audience, which included the Gozitan relatives of Dr. Vincent “Censu” Tabone (the future 4th President of Malta), who treated the injured pilot on the day of the crash, and Captain Frank Debono, Head of the National Military Service in Gozo and the son of Carmelo Zahra, the Coast Police Observer on duty at Dwejra Tower eighty years ago.

Darren Spicer, the pilot’s grandson then spoke about the amazing story of his grandfather’s time on Malta back in 1943. Gayle Burch the pilot’s granddaughter read extracts from Percy’s diaries in which the injured pilot talked of the kindness and help he had received from the Gozitans who rescued him at the time of the crash-landing, when he put down his aircraft in Dwejra after hitting ‘a small island in a bay in the West of Gozo’ (Fungus Rock) before landing ‘on a small rock not much bigger than the Spitfire.’Reflecting on the day the pilot’s granddaughter, Gayle Burch said, “after eighty years since the crash, it was incredible to meet so many people connected with our grandad’s story and to learn about the ‘bigger picture’ of Wartime Gozo.

She added that, “it was also wonderful to see the next generation pick up the baton of sharing people’s memories and wartime stories. Thank you for an excellent day. We feel we have made both new memories, and new friends.”

After lunch, members of the Stratford family and event guests visited the crash site at Dwejra and took the opportunity to visit the recently restored Tower and look at the new Maltese / English language visitor information panels, one of which, explores the important role played by the men on duty at Gozo’s coastal watchtowers during both World Wars.

Also included on the panels are several photos of the Spitfire and Percy ‘Bill’ Stratford in his Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) uniform.

**Spitfire Crash at Dwejra**Early on the morning of the 27th of March 1943, an RAF Mk Vb Spitfire, EP122-L from 1435 Squadron based at Luqa on Malta, crash landed on the cliff edge at Dwejra Bay whilst on a search and rescue mission.

The injured pilot, Flight Sergeant Percy (Bill) Stratford, from New Zealand, who was serving with the RAF, was rescued by R.P.C. 051 Carmelo Zahra, the tower’s Coast Police Observer on duty at the time.

The pilot suffered a broken arm and leg, with deep cuts to his forehead and chin. He was admitted to Victoria Hospital in Victoria, Gozo, before being transferred to No. 45 British General Hospital (GH) in Malta two days later.

The heavily damaged Spitfire was pushed over the cliff-edge into the sea shortly after the crash. Subsequently parts from EP122-L were found in 1969 at Dwejra Bay by RAF Sub Aqua Club divers. Parts of the plane were then recovered from the seabed in the mid 1970s and restoration work began over in the UK.The fully restored plane made its first flight in May 2016 and appeared in the 2017 film ‘Dunkirk.’ The Spitfire is now based in the United States and makes flights at airshows as one example of an iconic aircraft involved in the air defence of Malta during WWII.

The free event was organised Din l-Art Helwa, National Trust of Malta and kindly supported by Noel Formosa, the Mayor of San Lawrenz Council and San Lawrenz Primary School.

Restoration works at Dwejra Tower are now fully completed and visitors can once again explore this 17th century coastal watchtower and learn about its fascinating history. For opening times and more details, please visit the tower’s Facebook page

Photos: Flight Sergeant Percy ‘Bill’ Stratford (Photo Darren Spicer); Left to right Gayle Burch, Marlene Spicer and Darren Spicer at Dwejra Tower; Cockpit of Spitfire EP122 underwater at Dwejra Bay, 1969 (Photo Kevin Valentine) and Restored Malta Spitfire Mk Vb EP122 (Both photos by Anthony Clarke)

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