Naval Air Station Keflavik

United States Naval Air Station Keflavik (NASKEF) is a former NATO facility at Keflavík International Airport, Iceland. It is located on the Reykjanes peninsula on the south-west portion of the island. NASKEF was closed on 8 September 2006 and its facilities taken over by the Icelandic Defence Agency.

Overview

NASKEF was the host Command for NATO in Iceland. The major commands stationed on the base were Naval Air Station Keflavik, the United States Air Force's 85th Group, Fleet Air Keflavik, the Iceland Defense Force (NATO), NCTS Keflavik, and U.S. Naval Hospital Keflavik.

The primary mission of Naval Air Station Keflavik was to maintain and operate facilities and provide services and material to support operations of aviation activities and units of the operating forces of the Navy and other activities and units, as designated by the Chief of Naval Operations.

History

World War II

After gaining independence from Denmark in 1918 with the signing of the 25-year Danish-Icelandic Act of Union, Iceland followed a policy of strict neutrality. In 1939, with war imminent in Europe, the German Reich pressed for landing rights for Lufthansa's aircraft for alleged trans-Atlantic flights. The Icelandic government turned them down.

A British request to establish bases in Iceland for the protection of the vital North Atlantic supply lines after German forces occupied Denmark and Norway in April 1940 also was turned down in accordance with the neutrality policy. Nevertheless...
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