Yesterday evening, the Maltese skies welcomed examples of the aircraft that helped save our islands during World War II. Old time residents of the villages of Mqabba, Luqa, Safi and Qrendi would have been forgiven for thinking that their eyes were deceiving them, but 60 years on, the Hurricane and Spitfire are back with us again, albeit just for a few days.

The Hawker Hurricane Mk 1 and Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb were two of the aircraft that helped protect the country from the endless onslaughts of the Italian and German bombers that devastated the harbour area with daily raids and sorties.

So it is indeed nostalgic to have them back on what is arguably their finest setting – that of Luqa airfield – for the commemoration of the end of the Second World War, 60 years later.

Both aircraft flew in side by side over Grand Harbour and landed in a quiet part of the airport at around 6pm. It was a far cry from the dozens of planes that used to dot this bustling airfield way back, when pilots hardly slept as they played with death on an almost daily basis.

The Hurricane and Spitfire are here to take part in the Malta International Airshow which will take place tomorrow and Sunday but they will also be playing an important part in the Battle of Malta Veterans Reunion that will last until 29 September.

Yesterday, the majority of the veterans arrived here, to be greeted in the Arrivals Hall at the airport by a number of re-enactment teams. Both planes will be giving a display tomorrow afternoon during the air show at around 2pm.