RAF Reykjavik

Former Royal Air Force station in Iceland

RAF Reykjavik

Hurricane aircraft at RAF Reykjavik during World War II

* IATA: RKV
* ICAO: 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; -21.94056
Map

RAF Reykjavík

Location in Iceland

Royal Air Force Reykjavik or more simply RAF Reykjavik is a former Royal Air Force station, at Reykjavík Airport, Iceland.

## Beginnings

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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

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### Citations

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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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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.

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