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RAF Reykjavik 
Summary
Royal Air Force Reykjavik or more simply RAF Reykjavik is a former Royal Air Force station, at Reykjavík Airport, Iceland.
RAF Reykjavik  | |
|---|---|
 Hurricane aircraft at RAF Reykjavik during World War II | |
| Summary | |
| Airport type | Military |
| Owner | Icelandic Government |
| Operator | Royal Air Force |
| Serves | Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Location | Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Built | 1940 |
| In use | 1941-1945 |
| Elevation AMSL | 45 ft / 13.7 m |
| Coordinates | 64°07′48″N 021°56′26″W / 64.13000°N 21.94056°W |
| Map | |
  RAF Reykjavík Location in Iceland | |
Beginnings edit
The station was built in 1940 by the British Army and used by the Royal Air Force from March 1941 and throughout the remainder of the Second World War.
Squadrons edit
| Sqn | Aircraft | Joined | Departed | From → To | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | Consolidated Liberator VI & VIII | 13 September 1944 | 1 June 1945 | RAF St Eval → RAF St Davids | Squadron move and a detachment sent to RAF Ballykelly.[1] |
| 86 | Consolidated Liberator IIIA & V | 24 March 1944 | 1 July 1944 | RAF Ballykelly → RAF Tain | Squadron moved with a detachment to RAF Tain.[2] |
| 120 | Consolidated Liberator III & V | 15 April 1943 | 24 March 1944 | RAF Aldergrove → RAF Ballykelly | Originally detachments from RAF Ballykelly and then RAF Aldergrove before Squadron move and detachment to RAF Aldergrove.[3] |
| 190 | Consolidated PBY Catalina IB | 17 February 1943 | October 1943 | RAF Sullom Voe → DB | On detachment before the Squadron was disbanded and then reformed as No. 210 Sqn.[4] |
| 204 | Short Sunderland I & II | 5 April 1941 | 15 July 1941 | RAF Sullom Voe → RAF Gibraltar | Squadron move and a detachment to RAF Pembroke Dock.[5] |
| 209 | Consolidated PBY Catalina I | 26 July 1941 | 10 October 1941 | RAF Lough Erne → RAF Pembroke Dock | Squadron move.[6] |
| 210 | Short Sunderland I | 13 July 1940 | 28 February 1942 | RAF Oban → RAF Sullom Voe | On detachment only.[7] |
| 220 | Boeing Fortress II | July 1942 | 14 February 1943 | RAF Ballykelly → RAF Aldergrove | On detachment only.[8] |
| 221 | Vickers Wellington IC | 2 May 1941 | 25 December 1941 | RAF Limavady → RAF Docking | On detachment initially prior to Squadron move 29 September 1941 (with a detachment at RAF Limavady).[9] |
| 251 | Lockheed Ventura I | 1 August 1941 | 30 October 1945 | Reformed → Disbanded | After the Ventura the squadron flew: Lockheed Hudson III, Avro Anson I, Boeing Fortress II and Vickers Warwick I.[10] |
| 269 | Lockheed Hudson III | 6 March 1943 | 8 January 1944 | RAF Kaldadarnes → RAF Davidstow Moor | Squadron move.[11] |
| 279 | Hawker Hurricane IIC | February 1945 | 3 September 1945 | RAF Thornaby → RAF Beccles | On detachment only.[12] |
| 280 | Vickers Warwick I | 23 November 1945 | 21 June 1946 | RAF Thornaby → DB | On detachment only prior to Squadron being disbanded.[13] |
| 330 | Northrop N-3PB NOMAD Catalina III |
28 January 1943 | 12 July 1943 | Formed → RAF Oban | This Squadron was formed at RAF Reykjavik on 25 April 1941 before being moved to RAF Oban leaving behind a detachment until their next move to RAF Sullom Voe. The squadron was disbanded 21 November 1945 and transferred to Norwegian control.[14] |
| 612 | Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V & VII | 1 April 1941 | 18 August 1942 | RAF Wick → RAF Thorney Island | On detachment first then squadron move.[15] |
After the cessation of hostilities of the Second World War the British Government handed the airfield over to the Icelandic Civil Aviation Authority on 6 July 1946. It is now known as Reykjavik Airport.
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ Jefford, p.45 (No. 53 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.54 (No. 86 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.60 (No. 120 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.69 (No. 190 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.71 (No. 204 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.72 (No. 209 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.72 (No. 210 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.74 (No. 220 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.75 (No. 221 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.80 (No. 251 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.84 (No. 269 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.85 (No. 279 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.85 (No. 280 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.89 (No. 330 Sqn)
- ^ Jefford, p.101 (No. 612 Sqn)
Bibliography edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Reykjavik.
- Jefford, C G (2001). R.A.F Squadrons, A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.