Sola Air Station

Sola Air Station is located in Sola Municipality, Rogaland county, Norway. Established on May 29, 1937, by King Haakon VII, the facility began hosting military aircraft in 1939 with the arrival of Caproni Ca.310 bombers. During the German invasion on April 9, 1940, the airfield was the site of an opposed paratrooper landing by German fallschirmjägers who seized the installation. During the occupation, the Luftwaffe utilized the station and its seaplane base for maritime support operations. Units stationed there included Embarked Air Squadron 1/196 and Arado Ar 234 aircraft of 8. Staffel III./Kampfgeschwader 76. British and Norwegian troops recaptured the facility on May 9, 1945.

In the post-war period, Sola hosted 330, 333, 331, and 718 Squadrons. 718 Squadron operated Northrop F-5 fighters until its disbandment in 1982.

The air station is operated by the Royal Norwegian Air Force and is the headquarters of the Rescue Helicopter Service. The 330 Squadron is based here, operating AgustaWestland AW101 SAR Queen search and rescue helicopters. These aircraft are also detached to Rygge, Ørland, Bodø, and Banak air stations, with a stand-by presence maintained at Sola. Resident units include the Home Guard, the Norwegian Defence Logistics Organization, and the Norwegian Cyber Defence Force.

The United States Air Force 426th Air Base Squadron is stationed at the facility to support U.S. personnel assigned to NATO’s Joint Warfare Center, located at Jåttå. This squadron manages logistics for war readiness material and equipment for the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy. The air station shares its location with Stavanger Airport, Sola, and includes an aviation museum. The facility is a base for maritime helicopter operations.