RAF Reykjavik

RAF Reykjavik
IATA: RKVICAO: BIRK
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)
Elevation AMSL 45 ft / 13.7 m
Coordinates 64°07′48″N 021°56′26″W / 64.13000°N 21.94056°W / 64.13000; -21.94056Coordinates: 64°07′48″N 021°56′26″W / 64.13000°N 21.94056°W / 64.13000; -21.94056
Map
RAF Reykjavík

Location in Iceland

Royal Air Force Station Reykjavik or more simply RAF Reykjavik 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.

Squadrons

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

Citations

  1. Jefford, p.45 (No. 53 Sqn)
  2. Jefford, p.54 (No. 86 Sqn)
  3. Jefford, p.60 (No. 120 Sqn)
  4. Jefford, p.69 (No. 190 Sqn)
  5. Jefford, p.71 (No. 204 Sqn)
  6. Jefford, p.72 (No. 209 Sqn)
  7. Jefford, p.72 (No. 210 Sqn)
  8. Jefford, p.74 (No. 220 Sqn)
  9. Jefford, p.75 (No. 221 Sqn)
  10. Jefford, p.80 (No. 251 Sqn)
  11. Jefford, p.84 (No. 269 Sqn)
  12. Jefford, p.85 (No. 279 Sqn)
  13. Jefford, p.85 (No. 280 Sqn)
  14. Jefford, p.89 (No. 330 Sqn)
  15. Jefford, p.101 (No. 612 Sqn)

Bibliography

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