Sullom Voe - UK Airfield Guide

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Sullom Voe





SULLOM VOE: Flying Boat Station

Local area view
Local area view
Area view
Area view



Note:  These pictures are from my Google Earth © derived database.







 

Military user: WW2: RAF Coastal Command        18 Group

201 Sqdn   (Saro Londons, later Short Sunderlands)

190, 210 & 413 (RCAF) Sqdns   (Consolidated Catalinas)

204 & 461 (RAAF) Sqdns   (Short Sunderlands)

 

Location: S of the Sullom Voe Oil Terminal, NE of RAF SCATSA

Period of operation: WW2 only?

 

Alighting areas: North west to south east one square mile, north east to south west two square miles



A MICHAEL T HOLDER GALLERY   (With additions by the editor)

We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for providing most of the information, maps and photos etc.


Local area map c.1961
Local area map c.1961
Google Earth © view
Google Earth © view
Local map c.1965
Local map c.1965
Aerial photo
Aerial photo










 

Note:  The great aerial photo was obtained from the Shetland Amenity Trust


ITEMS FROM:  Twenty-five years with Flight Lieutenant Thomas Buchanan Clark by Chris Clark. Published by Pen & Sword Aviation and available as a KIndle.

Local area map early 1940s
Local area map early 1940s
Crew boarding a Sunderland
Crew boarding a Sunderland
Text excerpt
Text excerpt
Group photo 201 Squadron
Group photo 201 Squadron
  












Google Earth © detail of the flying boat base
Google Earth © detail of the flying boat base
Photo
Photo
Local area view
Local area view


Note:  I have added the aerial detail and local area view. For those stationed here in WW2 it must have been a god-foresaken posting.





 

SOME ADVICE PLEASE

The photo above, from the Imperial War Museum, certainly captured my interest. The first flying boat in this line is clearly not a Sunderland but obviously a Short C-Class Empire type. But which one? Just a few were impressed into RAF serivce rather than being transferred to BOAC. With the RAF they were used for communication duties, basically ferrying aircrews and others between various locations.

But, two were converted to be S.23M types, and I think this may well be one of them. The picture is not too sharp, but, I think that four vertical ariels on the aft fuselage can be made out? If I am correct (?) this might indicate it was one of two converted to conduct ASV radar trials as the Mk.111 Atlantic . These being V3137, (ex G-AFCU, and V3138. (ex G-AFCV). It appears these were operated by 119 Squadron.



 

NOTES: As with many of the WW2 seaplane/flying boat base moorings, these were spread around. Information gleaned so far indicates that there were twenty-two were in Garth’s Voe, three in Heinkel Gap, two in Voxter Voe, five in Bite of Haggrister and five in Scatsa Voe.



RAF COASTAL COMMAND STATIONS
In 2014 I found a listing in Wikipedia for RAF Coastal Command Stations at the start of World War 2, then November 1940 and finally February 1942, with the squadrons and aircraft types operated, which was very helpful to confirm I had most of my details correct.

Plus, it added a few more. It therefore seemed worthwhile to provide a précis which I have reworked to suit this ‘Guide’.


START OF WW2

 

RAF STATION COUNTY SQUADRON AIRCRAFT TYPE OPERATED
DYCE  ABERDEENSHIRE    612  Avro Anson
MONTROSE  ANGUS    269  Avro Anson
MOUNT BATTEN  DEVON    204  Short Sunderland
WARMWELL  DORSET    217  Avro Anson
LEUCHARS  FIFE    224 & 233  Lockheed Hudson
THORNEY ISLAND  HAMPSHIRE    22 & 48  Vickers Vildebeest (22 Sqdn)
 Avro Anson  (48 Sqdn)
DETLING  KENT    500  Avro Anson
BIRCHAM NEWTON  NORFOLK    42 & 206  Vickers Vildebeest (42 Sqdn)
 Avro Anson  (206 Sqdn)
ALDERGROVE  COUNTY ANTRIM    502  Avro Anson
PEMBROKE DOCK  PEMBROKESHIRE    210 & 228  Short Sunderland
INVERGORDON*  ROSS-SHIRE    209 & 240  Supermarine Stranraer (209 Sqdn)
 Saro London (240 Sqdn)
SULLOM VOE  SHETLAND ISLES    201  Saro London
THORNABY  YORKSHIRE    220 & 608  Avro Anson

 

 

*RAF INVERGORDON became RAF ALNESS in February 1943.

 

There were also four specialised units:


 

Torpedo Training Unit  GOSPORT  HAMPSHIRE
No.2 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit  GOSPORT  HAMPSHIRE
School of General Reconnaissance  THORNEY ISLAND  HAMPSHIRE
Seaplane Training Squadron    CALSHOT  HAMPSHIRE


 

With the exception of THORNEY ISLAND, who were equipped with Avro Ansons, the other three used a variety of aircraft.

 

 

LISTING FOR THE 1st NOVEMBER 1940

 

 RAF STATION  COUNTY  SQUADRON  AIRCRAFT TYPES OPERATED
DYCE  ABERDEENSHIRE    248  Bristol Blenheim
OBAN  ARGYLLSHIRE    210  Short Sunderland
WICK  CAITHNESS    42  Bristol Beaufort
HOOTON PARK  CHESHIRE    48  Avro Anson
St EVAL  CORNWALL    217
   236
 Avro Anson & Bristol Beaufort
 Bristol Blenheim 
LEUCHARS  FIFE    224 & 233  Lockheed Hudson
THORNEY ISLAND  HAMPSHIRE    59  Bristol Blenheim
DETLING  KENT    53
   500
 Bristol Blenheim
 Avro Anson
NORTH COATES  LINCOLNSHIRE    22  Bristol Beaufort
BIRCHAM NEWTON  NORFOLK    206
   235
 Lockheed Hudson
 Bristol Blenheim
ALDERGROVE  COUNTY ANTRIM    502  Blackburn Botha &
 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
CAREW CHERITON  PEMBROKESHIRE    321*  Avro Anson
PEMBROKE DOCK  PEMBROKESHIRE    10**
   209
 Short Sunderland
 Saro Lerwick
SULLOM VOE  SHETLAND ISLES    201 & 204  Short Sunderland 
STRANRAER  WIGTOWNSHIRE    240  Supermarine Stranraer 
THORNABY  YORKSHIRE    220
   608
 Lockheed Hudson
 Avro Anson & Blackburn Botha 

 

*321 was a Dutch Squadron **10 Squadron was Royal Australian Air Force

 

By this time the specialised Units had changed quite a lot:

Torpedo Training Unit (Bristol Beaufort) ABBOTSINCH RENFREWSHIRE

No.2 OTU (Anson/Blenheim) CATFOSS YORKSHIRE

No.3 OTU (Various) CHIVENOR DEVON

No.1 Coast Artillery Co-operation Unit DETLING KENT  (Bristol Blenheim)

No.2 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Unit GOSPORT HAMPSHIRE

No.1 (Coastal) OTU (Various) SILLOTH CUMBERLAND

No.3 School of General Reconnaissance SQUIRES GATE LANCASHIRE  (Blackburn Botha)

No.4 OTU (various) STRANREAR WIGTOWNSHIRE

 

By late 1940 Coastal Command had a Squadron (No.98) operating Fairey Battles from RAF Kaldadanes in Iceland. If today we might think a posting to RAF Sullom Voe or RAF Wick a bleak prospect in those days, those posted to Iceland must have thought they’d really pulled the short straw. Incidentally, I wonder how many people today realise that British forces invaded and took control of Iceland in an operation starting on the 10th May 1940?

 

LISTING FOR 12th FEBRUARY 1942

 

RAF STATION  COUNTY SQUADRON  AIRCRAFT TYPES OPERATED
DYCE  ABERDEENSHIRE    235  Bristol Beaufighter
OBAN  ARGYLLSHIRE    210  Consolidated Catalina
WICK  CAITHNESS    48 & 608  Lockheed Hudson
St EVAL  CORNWALL    22& 86
   217
   224
   502
 
 Bristol Beaufort
 Bristol Beaufort
 Lockheed Hudson
 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley 
MOUNT BATTEN  DEVON    10  Short Sunderland
LEUCHARS  FIFE    42
   320
   489
 Bristol Beaufort
 Lockheed Hudson
 Bristol Blenheim
THORNEY ISLAND  HAMPSHIRE    22 & 217
   233
   415

 Bristol Beaufort
 Lockheed Hudson
 Handley Page Hampden &
 Bristol Beaufort
DETLING  KENT    280  Avro Anson
NORTH COATES  LINCOLNSHIRE    59 & 407  Lockheed  Hudson
BIRCHAM NEWTON  NORFOLK    249
   500
   502
 Bristol Beaufighter
 Lockheed Hudson
 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley
ALDERGROVE  COUNTY ANTRIM    143
   206
 Bristol Blenheim
 Lockheed Hudson
CASTLE ARCHDALE  COUNTY FERMANAGH    201  Short Sunderland
LIMAVADY  COUNTY LONDONDERRY    53  Lockheed Hudson
NUTTS CORNER  COUNTY ANTRIM    120
   220
 Consolidated Liberator
 Boeing Fortress
CAREW CHERITON  PEMBROKESHIRE    254  Bristol Blenheim
PEMBROKE DOCK  PEMBROKESHIRE    209  Consolidated Catalina
SULLOM VOE  SHETLAND ISLES    413  Consolidated Catalina
SUMBURGH  SHETLAND ISLES    404  Bristol Blenheim
STRANREAR  WIGTOWNSHIRE   228  Short Sunderland

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                                             

In early 1942 RAF Coastal Command were also charged with operating No.1402 (Meteorological) Flight from RAF Aldergrove flying biplane Gloster Gladiators and Spitfires. Also from RAF Alderove, No.1405 (Meteorological) Flight flying Bristol Blenheims and Lockheed Hudsons. All in NORTHERN IRELAND of course.

No.1401 (Meteorological) Flight were flying Bristol Blenheims from RAF Bircham Newton (NORFOLK). It came as quite a surprise to me to learn that No.1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit based at Benson (OXFORDSHIRE) were under Coastal Command in 16 Group. Up at Wick (CAITHNESS) in northern Scotland No.1406 Meteorological Flight were flying Bristol Blenheims whereas, at the same period, No.1408 ‘Met’ Flight, also based here, were flying Lockheed Hudsons. At St Eval (CORNWALL) No.1404 ‘Met’ Flight were also flying Lockheed Hudsons.

 

A bit further east in (DEVON) at RAF Chivenor No.1417 (Leigh Light Trials) Flight were flying Vickers Wellingtons, the bomber famous for having the ‘geodetic’ fuselage type of contruction adopted by Barnes Wallis. The ‘Leigh Light’ was a very powerful searchlight which could be used in conjunction with ASV radar to attack German U-boats at night.

No.1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, based at RAF Benson (OXFORDSHIRE) had their ‘B Flight’ at St Eval flying Bristol Blenheims.

 

I trust you will agree that including this ‘table’ or ‘listing’ has been worthwhile, and, hopefully interesting. The credit due to the crews of RAF Coastal Command, the ‘Cinderalla Service’ is long overdue. It will probably never be determined as to just how effective most of Coastal Command duties actually were, but today there is no doubt they played a crucial role, easily arguably on a level equivalent to the contribution made by RAF Fighter Command? But, it would be senseless to now try to award 'Brownie' points. Even at the time they had none of the ‘glory’ accorded, it was mostly a thankless task, little appreciated if at all by the British public. But, I would like to think judging by accounts of those that flew these missions, the majority of the crews were in no doubt at all regarding the immense value they were adding to the war effort. And, they were right, no doubt about it.



ADAPTING
I also think it is of interest to see, over a period of three short years, how RAF Coastal Command had, for example, quite quickly adapted from their beloved huge biplane flying boats such as the Supermarine Stranrear and Saro London, via the Short Sunderland to the Consolidated Catalina. It must be remembered that the Catalina was not a replacement for the Sunderland – far from it. In fact it can easily be argued that the Sunderland was, especially if attacked by enemy aircraft, the most formidable foe of any flying boat ever built.

The Germans as I recall, called it ‘The Flying Porcupine’. When attacked, if you could get a Sunderland down to ‘deck’ level and weaving, it was a very formidable opponent. The classic story is the event of a Sunderland of 461 RAAF Squadron, flown by Colin Walker (with only two British crewmen on board) being attacked over the Bay of Biscay by eight Junkers JU.88C heavy fighters. The Sunderland crew shot down two, damaged others, and it is alleged, only two of the Junkers made it back to their base. Although heavily damaged and with one fatality, they limped back to crash land at Praa Sands in Cornwall, in Mount’s Bay.

 

 

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