| RAF Iceland No. 30 (Coastal) Wing RAF 29th (Training) Wing RFC | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | July 1941 - July 1945 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  Royal Air Force |
| Type | Royal Air Force command |
| Role | Anti-submarine warfare Commerce raiding Aerial reconnaissance Air-sea rescue Meteorological Flight |
| Part of | RAF Coastal Command |
| Engagements | Second World War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Air CommodoreCecil George WigglesworthCB, AFC |
RAF Iceland is a formerRoyal Air Force command which controlled RAF units within Iceland. The command was operational between July 1941 and July 1945 during theSecond World War, the unit was previouslyNo. 30 Wing RAF.[1]
RAF Iceland was formed on 2 July 1941, as an overseas command, withinRAF Coastal Command.[2] The following year, by April 1942, the command controlled two airfields in Iceland with four operational units.[3]No. 269 Squadron was operatingLockheed Hudson bomber, reconnaissance, transport, and maritime patrol aircraft, out ofRAF Kaldadarnes,[4] which was situated near the town ofSelfoss.RAF Reykjavik, atReykjavík Airport, was home toNo. 330 Squadron which operated withNorthrop N-3PB Nomad, a single-engined Americanfloatplane,[5]No. 612 Squadron which was equipped withArmstrong Whitworth Whitley, a British mediumbomber aircraft,[6] andNo. 1407 (Meteorological) Flight RAF which usedLockheed Hudson, an Americanlight bomber andcoastalreconnaissanceaircraft.[7][3] The command controlled theIceland Ferry Control Unit which was formed at Reykjavik on 11 August 1942.[1]
By April 1943, No. 612 Squadron had returned to the UK, toRAF Thorney Island.[6] No. 1407 (Meteorological) Flight RAF remained at RAF Reykjavik, but was now usingHandley Page Hampden, a British twin-enginemedium bomber,[8] and No. 330 Squadron had moved toRAF Oban,[5] but operated a detachment of Northrop N-3PB Nomad, at RAF Reykjavik[8] July 1944 saw only RAF Reykjavik in use. No. 1407 (Meteorological) Flight RAF was still based in Iceland and was back to operating with Lockheed Hudson.[9]No. 86 Squadron was now based at RAF Reykjavik and was equipped withConsolidated Liberator, a four-engined Americanheavy bomber,[10] andNo. 279 Squadron operated a detachment at this point, with Lockheed Hudson.[9] By July 1945 it was down to a single unit.[11] No. 1407 (Meteorological) Flight RAF had disbanded at RAF Reykjavik on 1 August 1944 to becomeNo. 251 Squadron.[7] The squadron was operating out of RAF Reykjavik, equipped withBoeing Fortress II, a four-engined American heavy bomber,[12] when the RAF Iceland command disbanded, during July 1945.[2]
History of No. 30 Wing RAF
No. 30 Wing RAF as formed as29th (Training) Wing RFC on 1 June 1917 at Edinburgh controllingMontrose Aerodrome andTurnhouse Aerodrome. On the formation of the Royal Air Force it was transferred to21st Group RAF and moved to Montrose on 22 July 1918. The wing was disbanded during October 1918.[13]
The wing was reformed on 22 March 1941 asNo. 30 (Coastal) Wing RAF atRAF Reykjavik and becameRAF Iceland on 2 July 1941.[13]
| Rank | name | from |
|---|---|---|
| Air Commodore | William Harold Primrose | unknown |
| Air Commodore | Cecil George Wigglesworth | 20 September 1943 |
| Air Commodore | Gerald Harold Boyce | 4 January 1945 |
| Formations and units |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branches and components | |||||||
| Reserve forces | |||||||
| Equipment | |||||||
| Personnel | |||||||
| Appointments | |||||||
| Symbols and uniform | |||||||
| Associated civil organisations | |||||||
