RAF Kaldadarnes
Near Selfoss, Iceland
A Lockheed Hudson of No. 269 Squadron prepares to take off on a patrol over the North Atlantic from RAF Kaldadarnes.
RAF Kaldadarnes is located in Iceland
RAF Kaldadarnes
RAF Kaldadarnes
Location within Iceland
Coordinates63°55′52.33″N 021°10′14.78″W / 63.9312028°N 21.1707722°W / 63.9312028; -21.1707722
TypeRoyal Air Force Station
Site information
OwnerIcelandic Government
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Site history
Built1940 (1940)
In use1941-1945 (1945)
Battles/warsSecond World War
Airfield information
Runways
Direction Length and surface
10/29 990 metres (3,248 ft) concrete
17/35 927 metres (3,014 ft) concrete
05/23 1295 metres (4,249 ft) concrete[1]

Royal Air Force Kaldadarnes or more simply RAF Kaldadarnes is a former Royal Air Force station, near the town of Selfoss, 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.[2]

Squadrons

SqnAircraftJoinedDepartedFrom → ToNotes
48Lockheed Hudson V & III6 January 194223 September 1942RAF Wick → RAF SumburghDetachment only.[3]
98Fairey Battle V
Hawker Hurricane I		31 July 194015 July 1941RAF Gatwick → DBLast Squadron move prior to being disbanded.[4]
269Avro Anson I
Lockheed Hudson I & III		April 19406 March 1943RAF Wick → RAF ReykjavikDetachment initially prior to Squadron move.[5]

After the cessation of hostilities of the Second World War the British Government handed the airfield over to the Icelandic Civil Aviation Authority and it was used for a short while until it was closed. It is now in ruins with the decaying runways, perimeter track, dispersals and site of some of the buildings still visible on satellite images in 2018.

There is a memorial to No. 269 Squadron RAF at the closest public access point, situated in the modern airfield of Selfoss.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "RAF Kaldadarnes information". Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  2. ↑ Casualty Details: Ravilious, Eric William, Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  3. ↑ Jefford, p.44 (No. 48 Sqn)
  4. ↑ Jefford, p.56 (No. 98 Sqn)
  5. ↑ Jefford, p.84 (No. 269 Sqn)

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to RAF Kaldadarnes.
  • 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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