RAF Reykjavik explained

RAF Reykjavik
Iata:RKV
Icao:BIRK
Type:Military
Operator:Royal Air Force
City-Served:Reykjavík, Iceland
Location:Reykjavík, Iceland
Used:1941-
Elevation-F:45
Elevation-M:13.7
Coordinates:64.13°N -21.9406°W
Pushpin Map:Iceland
Pushpin Label:RAF Reykjavík
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Iceland

Royal Air Force Reykjavik or more simply RAF Reykjavik is a former Royal Air Force station, at Reykjavík Airport, 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
Consolidated Liberator VI & VIII 13 September 1944 1 June 1945 Squadron move and a detachment sent to RAF Ballykelly.[1]
Consolidated Liberator IIIA & V 24 March 1944 1 July 1944 Squadron moved with a detachment to RAF Tain.[2]
Consolidated Liberator III & V 15 April 1943 24 March 1944 Originally detachments from RAF Ballykelly and then RAF Aldergrove before Squadron move and detachment to RAF Aldergrove.[3]
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]
Short Sunderland I & II 5 April 1941 15 July 1941 Squadron move and a detachment to RAF Pembroke Dock.[5]
Consolidated PBY Catalina I 26 July 1941 10 October 1941 Squadron move.[6]
Short Sunderland I 13 July 1940 28 February 1942 On detachment only.[7]
Boeing Fortress II July 1942 14 February 1943 On detachment only.[8]
Vickers Wellington IC 2 May 1941 25 December 1941 On detachment initially prior to Squadron move 29 September 1941 (with a detachment at RAF Limavady).[9]
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]
Lockheed Hudson III 6 March 1943 8 January 1944 Squadron move.[11]
Hawker Hurricane IIC February 1945 3 September 1945 On detachment only.[12]
Vickers Warwick I 23 November 1945 21 June 1946 RAF Thornaby → DB On detachment only prior to Squadron being disbanded.[13]
Northrop N-3PB NOMAD
Catalina III
28 January 1943 12 July 1943 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]
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V & VII 1 April 1941 18 August 1942 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

Bibliography

Notes and References

  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)