Herdla

Herdla is a former municipality in Hordaland county, Norway. The municipality existed from 1871 until 1964 and it encompassed a large group of about 2,000 islands and skerries covering about 115-square-kilometre (44 sq mi) of land area, to the northwest of the city of Bergen. The administrative centre of the municipality was the small island-village of Herdla (island). The municipality included the northern third of the island of Holsnøy, the northern third of the island of Askøy, and the islands of Misje, Turøy, Toftøy, Rongøy, Blomøy, Ona, Bognøy, and many smaller surrounding islands.

Herdla Church (Herdla kirke) dates back to 1863. The stone structure has 600 seats. The original church was demolished in the 19th century because it had too little space for the congregation. During the Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, the tower and the roofs were removed because of the belief that the British Royal Air Force used the church to navigate attacks on the west coast of Norway. The church was restored during 1910, 1935 and 1950.

Herdla (island)

Herdla is an island in the municipality of Askøy in Hordaland county, Norway. The 1.6-square-kilometre (0.62 sq mi) island lies just north of the larger island of Askøy and just west of the island of Holsnøy. The island is surrounded by the Herdlefjorden and Hjeltefjorden.

The island of Herdla was part of the municipality of Herdla until 1 January 1964 when it was merged into Askøy. The island has a nature reserve with 220 registered species of birds. During the Second World War, it was the site of Herdla Airport and some coastal fortifications. Herdla Church is located on the island.

Air base and coastal fortifications

During the Second World War, all of Herdla was in effect a military base for the German Luftwaffe. The flat area "Herdlevalen" was considered a good place for an airport. The air base at Herdla was important to defend the west coast of Norway against Allied attacks. Many fortifications were built to hinder possibly invading forces. All civilians had to leave the island. In 1945, they came back to an island full of military installations.