The two airfields on Shetland were Sumburgh on the South Mainland and Scatsta on the North Mainland, with main seaplane bases in Sullom Voe,Garth Voe, Lerwick Harbour & Scalloway.
RAF SUMBURGH
Located 25 miles south of Lerwick, Sumburgh was Shetlands first aerodrome and operated civilian flights during the 1930s. When war broke out in 1939 the RAF aquirred it and 3 Gloster Gladiator biplanes were stationed here and known as the Sumburgh Fighter Flight, in those days there were only grass runways but these were eventually replaced by 3 hard surface runways and lengthened,further construction of large hangers,billet huts,sick bay,ammo dumps were also undertaken and a Station HQ formed on 13 May 1940 along with 254 squadron Blenheims.
Above: The airfield camp & Control tower RAF Sumburgh in the 1940s. Photo: A.Isbister.
Above: The first pilots to arrive at RAF Sumburgh were these Gladiator pilots of Shetland Fighter Flight in 1939/40. Photo: Shetland Museum.
Above: Aircrew & Ground crew of 602 Squadron at RAF Sumburgh in 1942. Photo: IWM.
Above: Hurricane BD857 at Sumburgh. Photo: IWM.
Above: Sumburgh today, Shetlands main airport. Photo: Dave Earl.
SCATSTA & SULLOM VOE
This is the most Northerley airfield in the British Isles and was first conceived in 1938 when it was the original plan to build 3 runways, however this plan was scrapped due to labour shortage. dispersal pens that were to be cut into the peat were also abandoned for the same reason.
(Google Earth)
When the Second World War broke out it was hoped that it might be used as a fighter station but the enemy often flew at low level and went undetected until they were spotted by R.O.C posts, usually by then too late for a scramble by aircraft,so these fighters were kept at Sumburgh.
On 25 April 1940 a Hornet Moth flown by a visiting Air Marshall became the first aircraft to land here and various communications flights followed and up to 1941 there was only one runway completed here. Two Spitfires were stationed here in 1943 but again with the Luftwaffe flying in low level, radar would not pick them up so success from this station was non-existant.
Above: A cold Winter scene at Sullom Voe with Sunderlands poss of 204 Squadron.
3 Large Hangers were later built at Scatsta, one for maintenance Flying boats in Sullom Voe, and the others for general maintenance of aircraft, there was no control tower as such, but an Ops room and control hut were placed adutant to Garth Voe to the SE of the airfield, as was the domestic sites, for Scatsta and Sullom Voe. The airfield at Scatsta had by 1943 two tarmac runways and was in the latter part of the war used in main for maintenance of aircraft at Sumburgh & Sullom Voe, and as a Sattelite landing ground for Sumburgh.
Runways:
06/24 3,600ft (1,097m) NE to SW
13/31 4,530ft (1380m) NW to SE
(Shetland Museum)
Above: One of the large Bellman aircraft maintenance hangers at Scatsta during WWII.
Above: Scatsta Airport in 2006 this is now a regular airport for oil rig workers and HM coastguard station. Photo: Dave Earl.
One of the old airfield buildings thought to be the Canteen next to the main road. Photo: Dave Ramsey.
Selected bibliography for airfields:
Action Stations 7 by David J.Smith. Patrick Stephens Ltd. 1989.
Airfield Focus 13 - Scatsta & Sullom Voe by Peter Ward. GMS Enterprises. 1994.
All Shetland Museum photos are available to purchase online here:
http://photos.shetland-museum.org.uk/
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