RAF South Ruislip

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
RAF South Ruislip
Third Air Force - Emblem.png
South Ruislip, Middlesex, England
200px
Entrance to the base
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Type Military headquarters
Site information
Condition Site redeveloped
Site history
Built 1948-49
Demolished 1995
Garrison information
Occupants Third Air Force

RAF South Ruislip, also known as South Ruislip Air Station, was a non-flying Air Force station located in South Ruislip near London, England. Located close to RAF Northolt, the station was used by the United States Air Force's Third Air Force from 1949 until 1972, when the headquarters were moved to RAF Mildenhall.

History

The station opened in April 1949 and was leased by the United States Air Force as an administrative station to coordinate Third Air Force (USAFE) and 7th Air Division activities in Great Britain with the British Government.[1] The site was leased from the Ministry of Defence.[2] Logistical and support functions were located at RAF West Ruislip, leased by the US Navy from the Ministry of Defence.[1] All flying support was located at RAF Northolt that was supported by Detachment 1, 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing and later by Detachment 1, 20th Tactical Fighter Wing.[3] The site included the 7520th U.S. Air Force Hospital.[4]

A school for the children of American service personnel was established at RAF Eastcote in the 1950s, later joined by other welfare facilities.[5]

One specific group of young men that resided and started their careers there in the early 1970s was the famous Pop group, "America", whose songs entertained audience for years to come.[citation needed]

The total number of staff employed at the station had reached 1,733, including 487 British civilians, and the remainder made up of US Air Force personnel and civilians.[6]

Closure

File:South Ruislip Air Station 1994.jpg
The derelict site photographed in 1995

In 1972 the Third Air Force moved operations from the station to RAF Mildenhall.[7] The buildings that had formed the main part of the base on Victoria Road stood empty until they were demolished in 1995,[8] but were briefly used by the BBC as a filming location for the final series of the popular television police drama Z Cars in 1977 and 1978.[9]

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.

Use <references />, or <references group="..." />

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 'Ruislip: Economic and social history', A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971), pp. 137-140. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22444 Date accessed: 22 May 2012.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129723/locations
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=RAF_South_Ruislip&oldid=3962963"