Royal Air Force Sumburgh or more simply RAF Sumburgh is a former Royal Air Force satellite station that was located on the southern tip of the mainland island of the Shetland Islands, and was home to half of No. 404 Squadron RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force). At the outbreak of the Second World War the airstrip at the Sumburgh Links was taken over by the Air Ministry.[2] By 1941 there were three operational runways at RAF Sumburgh from which a variety of RAF aircraft operated.[2]

RAF Sumburgh
Sumburgh, Shetland Islands in Scotland
RAF Sumburgh is located in Shetland
RAF Sumburgh
RAF Sumburgh
Shown within Shetland
RAF Sumburgh is located in the United Kingdom
RAF Sumburgh
RAF Sumburgh
RAF Sumburgh (the United Kingdom)
Coordinates59°52′43″N 001°17′46″W / 59.87861°N 1.29611°W / 59.87861; -1.29611
TypeRoyal Air Force Satellite Station
CodeUM[1]
Site information
OwnerAir Ministry
OperatorRoyal Air Force
Controlled byRAF Fighter Command
1940-41
RAF Coastal Command
1941-
Site history
Built1933 (1933)
In use1933 – 1946 (1946)
Battles/warsEuropean theatre of World War II
Airfield information
Elevation1 metre (3 ft 3 in)[1] AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
00/00  Tarmac
00/00  Tarmac
00/00  Tarmac

History

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Sumburgh Links was surveyed and the grass strips laid out by Captain E. E. Fresson in 1936, and the airport was opened on 3 June of that year with the inaugural flight from Aberdeen (Kintore) by de Havilland Dragon Rapide G-ACPN piloted by Captain Fresson himself. It was also one of the first airfields to have RDF facilities, due to the frequency of low cloud and fog and the proximity of Sumburgh Head. The building of runways was at the instigation of Capt Fresson, who had proved to the Royal Navy at Hatston (Orkney) that it was essential to maintain all-round landing facilities over the winter months. This was taken up by the air force after the obvious success of the Hatston experiment.

The longest runway is 800 yards, and the shorter running a length of 600 yards from shoreline to shoreline. No. 404 Squadron operated Bristol Beaufighter Mark VI and X aircraft from this station on coastal raids against Axis shipping off the coast of Norway and in the North Sea.

No. 404 Squadron pioneered the use of unguided rocket projectiles against enemy merchant shipping sailing off the Norwegian coast by launching joint strike attacks with No. 144 Squadron (torpedo aircraft or 'Torbeaus') from RAF Sumburgh and RAF Wick in 1943 and early 1944.[citation needed]

The following units were posted to the airfield at some point:

Post war

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Scheduled services continued during the war and, in 1946, British European Airways started a scheduled service with Junkers Ju 52s and then Douglas DC-3s.[2] The main runway was lengthened in the mid-1960s.[2]

Current use

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The airfield, now called Sumburgh Airport, is owned by the Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, and commercial flights are provided by Loganair and Highland Airways.

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b Falconer 2012, p. 185.
  2. ^ a b c d "Sumburgh Airport". Shetlopedia. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  3. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 24.
  4. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 30.
  5. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 39.
  6. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 41.
  7. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 45.
  8. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 51.
  9. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 57.
  10. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 58.
  11. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 59.
  12. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 61.
  13. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 62.
  14. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 64.
  15. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 71.
  16. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 74.
  17. ^ a b c Jefford 1988, p. 75.
  18. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 77.
  19. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 79.
  20. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 82.
  21. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 85.
  22. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 86.
  23. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 87.
  24. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 89.
  25. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 93.
  26. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 95.
  27. ^ a b Jefford 1988, p. 98.
  28. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 99.
  29. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 100.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Sumburgh". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  31. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 145.

Bibliography

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  • Falconer, J (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
  • Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing, 1988. ISBN 1-84037-141-2.
  • Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.