RAF units in Iceland WW2

[Nai63]

I am trying to locate what RAF units which were up in Iceland during WW2.

My late uncle was stationed there in WW2 and I believe he was a carpenter and working around the aircraft. This is all I know off my late uncle's service career so any help would be grateful.

Cheers
Nai

[Neil Wilson]

Hello Nai
I've been Googling and found lots of information about the background and various units stationed in Iceland. The first aircraft were Fairey Battle bombers which if I remembered were a wooden construction. Therefore as a carpenter, there would be a lot of work for him.

[Nai63]

Hi Neil

The next question is - what is the RAF badge for this unit then??

Nai

[Geoffers]

TNA's catalogue also indicates Flying boats/Seaplanes based in Iceland in WW2.

The Veterans' Agency web-site indicates how to apply for details of his service record by next-of-kin.

[cfww2]

Over the course of the war RAF Reykjavik was a major station for transit and Coastal Commands, and included squadron personnel, support personnel and Maintenance Units. So without his records it would be rather difficult to narrow down which unit he was with, but as a carpenter he could have been with a Maintenance Unit. But he could equally have been with a squadron, airfield construction unit or the HQ.

You mention a badge - does that mean that you have one that you need identifing? If so then it maybe easier to post that for us to look at.

Anyway, the main squadrons who used RAF Reykjavik at some point were 53, 86, 120, 190, 204, 209, 210, 220, 221, 251, 269, 279, 280 330, and 612 Squadrons.

There were also Servicing Echelons, Airfield Construction Squadrons, Air Sea Rescue Units etc

CF

[Nai63]

We dont have a badge now, there was one in the family years ago but that has gone missing, hence why i was trying to find out what units were up there. Me thinks I will need to speak to the cousin to pick his brians to see he can remember anything about his father time up there.

Thanks for all your help on this one.

Happy New Year to you all

Nai

[Retlaw]

We dont have a badge now, there was one in the family years ago but that has gone missing, hence why i was trying to find out what units were up there. Me thinks I will need to speak to the cousin to pick his brians to see he can remember anything about his father time up there.

Thanks for all your help on this one.

Happy New Year to you all

Nai

Try www.britishbadgeforum.com
They may not have had any different badge than the standard R.A.F. Badge.
but they will have had cloth unit and trade badges, worn on their tunic sleeves.
If they don't know the answer nobody will.

Retlaw

[Ruperts Trooper]

I am trying to locate what RAF units which were up in Iceland during WW2.

My late uncle was stationed there in WW2 and I believe he was a carpenter and working around the aircraft. This is all I know off my late uncle's service career so any help would be grateful.

Cheers
Nai

Nearest next-of-kin can apply to MoD for WW2 service record of individuals - the records can be sketchy as they were being kept in combat conditions!

RAF 98 Sqd was also in Iceland operating Fairey Battle light bombers.

In early 1940 as part of Bomber Command, 98 Sqd was posted to Chateau Bougon near Nantes in France suffering heavy losses among the Fairey Battle aircrews. As a result the Fairey Battles were withdrawn from front line operations - during the relocation back to UK, the ground crew suffered heavy losses as they were on the SS Lancastria when she sunk after enemy bombing.

98 Sqd was re-formed at Gatwick, including some of the surviving personnel and Fairey Battles from other Squadrons which had been equipped with more modern aircraft.

In 1940, Britain invaded Iceland to prevent it falling into enemy hands and as a base to patrol the sea lanes in/out of the Atlantic - politically Iceland couldn't offer the use of the island as a military base but they preferred to host the Allies rather than the enemy!

In mid 1940 having been transferred to Coastal Command, 98 Sqd moved to Kaladarnes and Melgerdi on Iceland - the poor performance of the Fairey Battle and the difficult terrain soon took it's toll on aircraft - redundant groundcrew being transferred to other Squadrons, in some cases out to Singapore but that's another sad story.

After Pearl Harbour and the end of US neutrality, US forces took over operational responsibility in Iceland, using longer-range and more effective aircraft.

My father served as Flight Mechanic Engines with 98 Squadron in France and Iceland, before being posted to 67 and then 100 Squadron in Singapore.

[bartlemere]

i was so happy to see your message--my father served in iceland during the war, my mother was stationed somewhere up there
they married in kitrkwall cathedral-i have menus and inviations like yours

[bartlemere]

i should have said -in my dads service book he is down as lac aircraftman and i think when the war ended he came out to the job held open for him i am looking into my famils past and trying to see his face on your photos i have some too his name was james thomas stubley