Darrell's Island Seaplane Base

Warwick, BM 🇧🇲 Closed Airport

ICAO

BM-0003

IATA

-

Elevation

- ft

Region

BM-U-A

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 32.27513° N, -64.81915° E

Continent: NA

Type: Closed Airport

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.
Nearby Points of Interest

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Airport Information

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 24, 2025
Closure Date

Approximately 1948

Reason for Closure

Technological obsolescence and military conversion. The primary reason for the base's closure was the construction and establishment of Kindley Field (now L.F. Wade International Airport), a large land-based airfield built by the U.S. Army during World War II. The post-war aviation industry rapidly shifted from flying boats to more efficient, faster, and higher-capacity landplanes. This technological shift rendered the seaplane base commercially and strategically obsolete, with all major airlines moving their operations to the new land airport by 1948.

Current Status

Today, Darrell's Island is a public park and recreational area managed by the Government of Bermuda's Department of Parks. The island is a popular destination for locals and tourists for camping, boating, swimming, and picnics. Most of the extensive airport infrastructure, including hangars and administrative buildings, has been removed. However, some remnants of its past, such as concrete foundations, walls, and the old slipways where the seaplanes were hauled from the water, can still be found by visitors exploring the island.

Historical Significance

Darrell's Island was Bermuda's first airport and a pivotal site in the 'Golden Age' of aviation. Operations began in 1936 with a flight by an Imperial Airways Short Kent flying boat. It quickly became a crucial mid-Atlantic refueling stop for the pioneering transatlantic passenger services operated by Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) and Imperial Airways (later BOAC). The base was famous for servicing iconic flying boats like Pan Am's Sikorsky S-42 and the legendary Boeing 314 'Clippers', as well as Imperial's Short Empire flying boats. It was a symbol of luxury travel, connecting the United States and Europe. During World War II, the facility was commissioned by the Air Ministry and became 'RAF Darrell's Island'. It served as a vital staging post for the Royal Air Force Ferry Command, repairing and servicing Allied aircraft being flown across the Atlantic. It also housed a crucial censorship station, where thousands of workers inspected all mail passing between the Americas and Europe.

Reopening Prospects

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Darrell's Island as a seaplane base or any other type of aviation facility. The island is now zoned for recreational use, and Bermuda's aviation needs are fully met by the modern L.F. Wade International Airport (TXKF/BDA). The historical significance of the site is preserved through its status as a park rather than through any active aviation role.

Nearby Airports

Naval Air Station Bermuda Annex
BM-0002
Sandys, BM
Closed Airport
~3 km away
RNAS Boaz Island
BM-0001
Sandys, BM
Closed Airport
~5 km away
L.F. Wade International Airport
BDA • TXKF
Hamilton, BM
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~16 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

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