RAF Kaldadarnes

RAF Kaldadarnes
IATA: none – ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner Icelandic Government
Operator Royal Air Force
Serves Reykjavík, Iceland
Location Reykjavík, Iceland
Built 1940 (1940)
In use 1941-1945 (1945)
Coordinates 63°55′52.33″N 021°10′14.78″W / 63.9312028°N 21.1707722°W / 63.9312028; -21.1707722Coordinates: 63°55′52.33″N 021°10′14.78″W / 63.9312028°N 21.1707722°W / 63.9312028; -21.1707722
Map
RAF Kaldadarnes

Location in Iceland

Royal Air Force Station Kaldadarnes or more simply RAF Kaldadarnes is a former Royal Air Force station, near the city of Reykjavík, Iceland.

Beginnings

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.

On 2 September 1942 the war artist Eric Ravilious was lost after he flew from Kaldadarnes.[1]

Squadrons

Sqn Aircraft Joined Departed From > To Notes
48 Lockheed Hudson V & III 6 January 1942 23 September 1942 RAF Wick > RAF Sumburgh Detachment only.[2]
98 Fairey Battle V
Hawker Hurricane I 		31 July 1940 15 July 1941 RAF Gatwick > DB Last Squadron move prior to being disbanded.[3]
269 Avro Anson I
Lockheed Hudson I & III 		April 1940 6 March 1943 RAF Wick > RAF Reykjavik Detachment initially prior to Squadron move.[4]

After the cessation of hostilities of the Second World War the British Government handed the airfield over to the Icelandic Civil Aviation Authority and was used for a short while until it was closed and is now in ruins.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Casualty Details: Ravilious, Eric William, Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  2. ↑ Jefford, p.44 (No. 48 Sqn)
  3. ↑ Jefford, p.56 (No. 98 Sqn)
  4. ↑ Jefford, p.84 (No. 269 Sqn)

Bibliography

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