Ascension Island Base is a British airbase on Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean. An Airbase, sometimes referred to as a military airport or airfield, provides basing and support of military aircraft. ... Anthem: God Save the Queen Capital Georgetown Status Dependency of St Helena Official language(s) English Administrator Michael Hill Area  - Total  - % water 222nd 35 sq. ...

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. April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Strike Command is the successor organisation in the Royal Air Force to RAF Bomber Command, RAF Fighter Command and RAF Coastal Command of WWII fame. ... The Permanent Joint Headquarters is the British Tri Service Base in Northwood from where all overseas military operations are planned and controlled. ...

The first aircraft to land on Ascension Island was a Fairey Swordfish from HMS Archer in 1942. In 1943 The United States Army 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. Fairey Swordfish The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during World War II. Affectionately known as the Stringbag by its crews, it was outdated by 1939, but achieved some spectacular successes during the... Seven ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Archer. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... The United States Army Air Forces, or USAAF, was a part of the U.S. military during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ...

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. 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants United Kingdom Argentina Casualties 258 killed [1] 777 wounded 59 taken prisoner 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner The Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas) was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South... During the Falklands War, Operations Black Buck 1 to Black Buck 6 were a series of six extremely long-range bombing attacks by Royal Air Force Vulcan bombers against Argentine positions in the Falkland Islands. ... The United States Air Force (USAF) is the aerospace branch of the United States armed forces and one of the seven uniformed services. ...