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Unit History: RAF Ascension Island
Ascension Island Base is a British airbase on Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean.
It was known as RAF Ascension Island until 1 April 2004 when control of the base passed from Royal Air Force Strike Command to the Permanent Joint Headquarters.
The first aircraft to land on Ascension Island was a Fairey Swordfish from HMS Archer in 1942. In 1943 The United States Air Force set up Wideawake Airfield, by arrangement with the British government. The airfield was abandoned at the end of the war, but reopened in 1957 by the US. A missile tracking station was established there in 1967, which has since closed.
RAF Ascension Island was re-garrissoned by the RAF in 1982 and used extensively as a staging base during the Falklands War. Operation Black Buck, the long range bombing raids, were carried out from there. The base continues this role for both the RAF and the United States Air Force.
It was known as RAF Ascension Island until 1 April 2004 when control of the base passed from Royal Air Force Strike Command to the Permanent Joint Headquarters.
The first aircraft to land on Ascension Island was a Fairey Swordfish from HMS Archer in 1942. In 1943 The United States Air Force set up Wideawake Airfield, by arrangement with the British government. The airfield was abandoned at the end of the war, but reopened in 1957 by the US. A missile tracking station was established there in 1967, which has since closed.
RAF Ascension Island was re-garrissoned by the RAF in 1982 and used extensively as a staging base during the Falklands War. Operation Black Buck, the long range bombing raids, were carried out from there. The base continues this role for both the RAF and the United States Air Force.
Memories of RAF Ascension Island
(Memories written by members of Forces Reunited)
RAF Ascension Island in 1988
Written by Colin Johnson
Maggie decided to show how fast we could get troops down to MPA and l was working in In-Flight.There was me, sarge from the Office and a SAC who was on detachment, who had to get used to the heat, and having to work nights (12 hour shifts).
This one night l went out for some fresh air with what we were told was atleast 4 hours before the first flight was coming in.
Out over the sea there was this flash, being about 1am and Brazil to far away for it to be car headlights, l looked again, what seemed an eternity, there it was again another flash, then all the approach lights came on.
Low and behold it was a Herc coming in, by the time l got the rest of the troops moving and called MT to get the truck ready and got the keys to the van there were another 2 sets of lights, the next 5 hours + we never stopped.
Emptying one a/c re rationing another, despatching the wagon to look after the VC10's and the Tristars and the boss decided to come down to see how we were getting on, he was put on tea duty and he didn't argue, me a mere Cpl telling the Flt Lt to get the tea made.
8am came, how l got back to the block l still don't know, the meal l'd nuked (microwave!) and the tea l didn't even get to smell let alone eat, this is what happened for nearly 3 weeks
We did get one break when a US Airforce green lizard came in, those 10 minutes were heaven! You tell people that these days and they'll never believe you!!!!!
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15 people in our Forces Reunited records
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Active From: 1942 - Present
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