Eggert Norddahl:These pictures
are valuable to history of Reykjavik Airport, as not
too many pictures of RAF aircraft
survive from here in late 1945 to mid
summer 1946. In this period the airport was closed to the public, on
grounds of
International Airport / Customs Zone, and there were
constantly many planes coming or going. (Keflavik was mostly
closed to
international traffic in same period, 90% of civil planes still stopped
at Reykjavik, that changed after 1947 as
90% of International traffic
landed there from 1948 onwards, and to this day).
Eggert Norddahl has been
researching Icelandic Aviation History for 30 years. On this page he
makes his first initial assessment of some of the unique
pictures found on the Pearce Family album. If other people have similar aviation photos of this period and
wish them indentified they can contact me directly
Thousands of British and American serviceman visted or stayed for
longer periods in Iceland
during the war and likely hundreds of small snapshot pictures are still
tucked away in albums, drawers, attics or even
cellars and just remain to be discovered for what they really are.
Click on
pictures to view
individually in new window. Click back button to return to this page.
American Boeing B-17H Flying Fortress with rescue boat, this likely
taken at Keflavik Airport, two of them were there at any time in 1945
to 1950.
Royal Air Force (RAF) Consolidated B-24J Liberator of 220 Squadron
(serial KK343 code XB-U), this is known flying several times between
Prestwick
and Reykjavik in November and December 1945 - carrying Mail
for the ´HR´ (Royal Mail / Postal Service) ~ Home Run.
( source) www.worldwar2exraf.co.uk At the outbreak of War the
Squadron began patrols from Thornaby and by November 1939 had converted
to Hudsons, which it used for anti-shipping missions
off Norway and the Dutch coast from May 1940. In April 1941 the
squadron moved to northern Scotland for attacks on coastal
shipping and harbours in Norway and in November supplied a detachment
to operate the surviving Fortresses in January 1942 and
became operational in April from Northern Ireland. In March 1943, the
Squadron moved to Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides
for seven months before being transferred to the Azores where it began
to convert to Liberators in December 1944. For the rest of
the war, it flew anti-submarine patrols over the South Adlantic,
returning to the UK in June 1945 to join transport Command.
Trooping flights to India began in October and continued until the end
of April 1946. On 25 May 1946, Squadron.220 was disbanded.
RAF Percival Proctor (serial HM289 "C") of Station Flight Reykjavik
(1942-1946) but was sold in Iceland and became TF-SHA.
RAF Avro Lancaster ME374 V7-A of unknown unit (Possibly EANS - Empire
Air Navigation School) known visiting in spring 1946.
RAF deHavilland Mosquito of ferry flight to UK from Canada 1946 (likely
just one via Reykjavik in all of 1946!) but year could be 1945 and
could then be any serial. It just does not show.
RAF Lockheed Hudson (likely FK807) "E" of Station Flight Reykjavik
(sold as TF-SHB in 1946, crashed 1950).
RAF Vickers Warwick of 280 (ASR) Squadron with
lifeboat, Reykjavik 1946
(temporary detachment).
Douglas DC-3 of SABENA, at Reykjavik Airport, on ferry flight to
Belgium (April or May 1946).
RAF Short Sunderland of 201 Squadron (code NS-D or NS-Q) at
Skerjafordur/Fossvogur inlet, south of Reykjavik (Reykjavik Harbour is
on the north side, they landed at Skerjafjorður / Reykjavik
Seadrome!
but usually moored at Fossvogur).
Barracks and fuel storage tanks on west side of
Öskjuhlið, hot water tanks at top of hill. Larger tanks are
there now
with dome Perlan on top.
Women and Raf personnel at Reykjavik Airport, Hangar (no.4) across the
ramp/runway.
Buskerbrian says: It is very
likely my father and mother are in this photo. Perhaps it was taken the
same day as the Hafnarfjordur photo (below).
RAF Lockheed Hudson (FK807 "E" Station Flight) at (American forces
built) Ikaeq Airfield, East-Greenland, May 1946 (one visit known -
purpose probably mail or ambulance flight .
RAF Vickers Warwick of 280 SQ detachment
( source) www.worldwar2exraf.co.uk 280 Squadron formed on 10 December
1941 at Thorney Island for air-sea rescue duties. Originally intended to have
Hudsons the squadron moved to Delting with Ansons in February 1942 as
the Hudsons were required for other
units. In June the Squadron began taking
part in searches along the coasts of south-east England and East
Anglia. In October 1943, the Squadron
re-equipped with Warwicks for longer patrols over the North Sea as well
as being able to carry airbourne
lifeboats. The squadron continued its rescue role after the end of the
war, sending detachments to Cornwall, Northern
Ireland, the North of Scotland and Iceland, being disbanded on 21 June
1946.
"Shell" fuel-truck (make and model not known - appears as
´Chevrolet´ but is
American type).
Reykjavik Harbour looking east-north-east from Catholic Church tower
(Landakotskirkja) with Mt. Esja in distance.
Picture 017: Looking north-west from top of Catholic Church tower
(Landakotskirkja).
Reykjavik-Road, Hafnarfjordur - one of the houses was an ´Hotel
Cellar´ (restaurant/bar/dance-hall), but house in right middle
distance is long gone.
Buskerbrian says: The dance hall
would have been a focal point for my father. A place of fond memories,
where he courted his future wife. They were
extremely good dancers - and their favourite band were the Glen Miller
Band. A memory of a place
where you had many great nights courting
your future wife would make this photo special indeed.
Aerial view of Reykjavik harbour, the Pond at top.
Douglas C-47 Dakota "N" of Royal Canadian Air Force, ferry flight from
Europe to Canada 1946
