Airport type Military In use 1938-1952 (1952) Year built 1938 | Operator Royal Air Force Elevation AMSL 10 ft / 3 m Owner Air Ministry | |
Location Sullom Voe, Shetland Isles | ||
Royal Air Force Station Sullom Voe or more simply RAF Sullom Voe is a former Royal Air Force station near the village of Brae, in the Shetland Isles of Scotland. It was a Flying boat base and was closely associated with the adjacent airfield of RAF Scatsta
Contents
Beginnings
The building of this flying boat station started well before the Second World War during 1938 and it became home to various Coastal Command squadrons that patrolled the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and North Atlantic for enemy ships and U-Boats. In the early days accommodation was provided by the Clyde-built SS Manella, a ship built in 1921, requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1939, renamed HMS Manella and sent to Sullom Voe as a supply ship to provide temporary accommodation prior to suitable accommodation being built on-shore at nearby Graven. 201 Squadron was posted there just 25 days before the declaration of war on 3 September 1939. 240 Squadron was posted there a month later on 4 November 1939 then Sullom Voe became the first location in the British Isles to be bombed on Monday 13 November 1939 when four bombs landed in a field. No damage was formally reported apart from the death of a rabbit!
The complex was added to when a nearby airfield was built during 1940 and named RAF Scatsta.
During the War
During the latter period one of 210 Sqn's pilots, Flying Officer John Cruickshank, carried out a successful attack on a German U-boat, which by this time possessed heavy anti-aircraft guns. Despite severe injuries, he managed to fly his aircraft home and circled until daybreak before he was able to land it safely saving his crew, an achievement for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Post War
After the Second World War: See Sullom Voe, Sullom Voe Terminal and Scatsta Airport.