A memorial will be unveiled today (Saturday 6 November) at 12 noon to the service personnel of RAF Stornoway who lost their lives during World War Two.

The airport, now one of 10 operated by HIAL, provided an important base for anti-submarine operations and a staging post for transatlantic flights during the Second World War as the closest British airfield to Iceland.

The Royal Air Force took over the airfield in 1941 and the names of 125 airmen who died while serving at the base during the war are commemorated with the new memorial along with any unknown losses.

The airport latterly provided a NATO forward operating base until 1993 when ownership of the airport transferred to HIAL.

The memorial project has been developed by the Stornoway branch of the Royal Air Forces Association and has been supported and sponsored by organisations and individuals including Sandwick Community Council and HIAL. The memorial is located at the main road entrance to Stornoway Airport.

The official unveiling and dedication of the memorial will be carried out by Sandy Matheson OBE, Lord Lieutenant of the Western Isles and chairman of HIAL. The ceremony will be attended by members of the RAFA, sponsors and representatives from the local community and airport.

Mr Matheson said: “This memorial provides a fitting tribute to those personnel, both known and unknown, from RAF Stornoway who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of the nation during World War Two. We hope that it will remind people of their bravery and dedication and ensure that this period in the airport’s life is always recognised.”

ENDS