The Icelandic Ambassador to the UK, Sturla Sigurjónsson, has paid a visit to RAF Lossiemouth to renew the historic links which exist between 120 Squadron and Iceland which date back to the Second World War.
The RAF say in a news release that during the visit they viewed Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft ZP804 which is named ‘Spirit of Reykjavik’ in honour of the role played by the Icelandic capital and its people in enabling the Allied victory during the Battle of the Atlantic.
Group Captain Layden, Station Commander RAF Lossiemouth, was quoted as saying:
“I’m delighted to welcome Mr Sigurjónsson to RAF Lossiemouth, to celebrate the historic connection between Iceland and the UK’s maritime patrol heritage. At our darkest hour, the people of Iceland welcomed the RAF and their support was crucial to our victory in the Battle of the Atlantic. Now, as then, our two nations remain firm friends and partners in the cause of Euro-Atlantic security.”
Mr Sigurjónsson, Icelandic Ambassador to the UK, was quoted as saying:
“Peace, stability and security in the North-Atlantic is of fundamental importance to Iceland. This has been our objective for decades, achieved in close consultation and cooperation with our Allies. We welcome and appreciate the UK’s contribution, including the return of British maritime patrol aircraft to the region. The naming of a P-8 as ‘The Spirit of Reykjavik’ reflects the close ties between our countries.”
Do you think the RAF gave him cod for lunch?
There’s a time and a plaice for that sort of thing
Really have to fillet these replies out.
There should be more sole in what we post.
😉
Did he mackerel? No, I was herring that he trout about the haddock… Lol 😁
Sorry for my bad Fishglish!
Brilliant.
😂
No, that’s a missed hake
Good! Focpmsl
Laughing down here in Sydney! 😁
Just for the Halibut.
Looks like he’s having a whale of a time…..
I’m assuming he’s topping up on the duty free too, even in Wee Jimmy’s Utopic alcohol unit priced Empire, its cheaper than Iceland.
What a load of Pollocks!
No mention of our invading them at the start of WW2.
If we didnt Adolf would have and then they would have been under the nazi jackboot
I think you will find they welcomed us with open arms
So whats your point
We invaded them against their will, which they weren’t to happy about. That’s his point.
It is funny. I remember when I went to Iceland the local guide referred to it as “when the British visited” them.
It never fails to amaze me, how wonks crawl out from their moms bedroom expressing fake outrage in which to try and claim the moral highground .
I suppose I should have finished my statement with a smiley 😀
I only raised it, as a point of interest, as so meany people seem to not know their history. If it has caused people to google “did UK invade Iceland” then hopefully they will have learnt a bit more history. I am aware of it, as my father was based there for 2 years, having been diverted after the failed landings in Norway.
Mark,
These past few years has seen a huge rise in misinformation directed at the Uk regards the past , all with the aim of painting the Uk as the most evil empire on the planet. this of late has manifested itself in the promotion of Black Lies Matter where whitey can only be guilty and change must be made in which to elevate recent arrivals, the alphabet people and those who left the Uk to work in Alis snack bar across the ME into high and mighty positions of political and social control over the rest of us..
Back to the subject at hand, yes on the 10th May 1940 the UK took Iceland with 746 marines (which was backed up by the landing of 7000 Canadians soldiers on the 17 May 1940) So why did the British take Iceland, because of its very strong links to Denmark.(The mother country) which had been invaded captured and occupied by the Nazis the month before. (along with Norway) The Uk had pressed Iceland on its position and they had cited their neutrality and refused to budge, but if the Germans managed to take the island, they would be in a very strong position to target the convoys (already running across the Atlantic) from the US and Canada and that could not be allowed to happen and so the British took the Island were supported by the Canadians a week later and handed over lock stock and barrel to the Yanks a year later, where they remained until 2006,
Funny enough on the very day that the Brits landed on Iceland, Hitler invaded Western Europe. I was taught all of the above at school (with a little more learnt from reading books) but as I mentioned above, History has been revised where all the actions of the past are judged with the morals of today and all we seem to hear nowadays is
The UK did this
The UK did that.
Yes the Uk did and some of the things it did were and are unpalatable. But the simple fact remains it helps to tell both sides of the story allowing the person you are informing to make his, her own mind up.
Well said
Absolutely brilliant. Post of the year and I’d buy that man a pint.
Another excellent contribution from Farouk….
Since the 1970’s, elements within the UK have constantly attacked and undermined the national self confidence.
Many have the blinkered attitude that the UK is still stuck in the 70’s, a sort of depressing, grim post industrial, permanent winter waistland, best embraced by the likes of miserable sod Jimmy McGoverns, depressing ‘ Britains Shit’ TV dramas.
This same left leaning mob has totally embraced Cancel culture, as a way of really swinging the axe with unadulterated glee, at the UK and it’s history…..
” Wonks ” Lol ! 😂 😅 😂 👍
“the people of Iceland welcomed the RAF and their support was crucial” an interesting way to describe a unopposed invasion.
Have the Brits shown any interest in acquiring the AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor for their P-8s. Would be a great addition especially since they got rid of their Sentinels.
The Pod has been linked to the reason the E-7 numbers have been cut from 5 to 3. as they offer the same capability. also as RAF was no longer prepared to have costs Aircraft doing Army work. BUT WHO KNOWS,
Err, I don’t think so. The E7’s MESA is in a different league compared to the P8’s AAS. The MESA can do everything the AAS can do and at a longer range, whilst the AAS can only do some of the roles the MESA does.