RAF Sumburgh

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RAF Sumburgh 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).

The former RAF Sumburgh airfield had two runways, the longest being 800 yards, and the shorter running a length of 600 yards from shore-line to shore-line. No. 404 Squadron operated 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 airfield is now called Sumburgh Airport, is owned by the Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, and commercial flights are served by Loganair and Highland Airways.

[edit] Sources

  • Ph.D. Candidate Stéphane Guevremont (Lecture Tour), University of Calgary, 2005-2006