RAF South Ruislip
{{Short description|Non-flying Air Force station}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name= RAF South Ruislip
|ensign=Third Air Force - Emblem.png
|ensign_size=90px
|location= South Ruislip, Middlesex, England
|coordinates = {{Coord|51|33|21|N|00|22|57|W|type:landmark_region:GB-HIL|display=inline,title}}
|image= RAF South Ruislip.jpg
|image_size= 200px
|caption= Entrance to the base
|type= Military headquarters
|code=
|built= 1948-49
|builder=
|materials=
|height=
|used=
|demolished= 1995
|condition= Site redeveloped
|commanders=
|occupants= Third Air Force
|battles=
|events=
}}
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.{{cite book |title=Ickenham And Harefield Past |last=Bowlt |first=Eileen M. |year=1996 |publisher=Historical Publications |location=London |isbn=0-948667-36-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/ickenhamharefiel0000bowl |url-access=registration }} The site was leased from the Ministry of Defence.{{cite news |title=USAFE Cuts Three Hq Staffs |url=http://www.northwoodnads.com/closing_of_south_ruislip_air_sta.htm |newspaper=Stars & Stripes |date=8 January 1972 |access-date=11 May 2012}} Logistical and support functions were located at RAF West Ruislip, leased by the United States Navy from the Ministry of Defence. 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.{{cite book |title=A History of Royal Air Force Northolt |last=Bristow |first=Mark |author2=Laidlow-Petersen, Sylvia |year=2005 |publisher=No. 1 AIDU |location=RAF Northolt }} The site included the 7520th U.S. Air Force Hospital.{{cite web |url=http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioid=4770 |title=Lieutenant General (Dr.) Max B. Bralliar |year=2011 |publisher=United States Air Force |access-date=11 May 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720020007/http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioid=4770 |archive-date=20 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}
A school for the children of American service personnel was established at RAF Eastcote in the 1950s, later joined by other welfare facilities.{{cite web |url=http://www.ruislip.co.uk/eastcotemod/index.htm |title=Eastcote MOD |year=1985|publisher=Ruislip Online |access-date=14 September 2010}} In 1970, American teenagers Dewey Bunnell, Dan Peek and Gerry Beckley, whose fathers were stationed at the base, formed the folk rock group America.{{cite web |last1=Hunt |first1=Luanne |title=America still rockin' after 48 years |url=https://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20181101/america-still-rockin-after-48-years |website=vvdailypress.com |access-date=15 November 2020 |language=en}}
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.'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.
=Closure=
File:South Ruislip Air Station 1994.jpg
In 1972 the Third Air Force moved operations from the station to RAF Mildenhall.{{cite web |url=http://www.mildenhall.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet_print.asp?fsID=12916&page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719153449/http://www.mildenhall.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet_print.asp?fsID=12916&page=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 July 2011 |title=3rd Air Force History |publisher=Department of the Air Force |access-date=27 March 2011}} The Ministry of Transport used portions of the base for records storage in the mid-1970's. Thereafter, the buildings that had formed the main part of the base on Victoria Road stood empty until they were demolished in 1995,{{cite book |title=Around Ruislip, Eastcote, Northwood, Ickenham & Harefield |last=Bowlt |first=Eileen. M |year=2007 |publisher=Sutton Publishing |location=Stroud |isbn=978-0-7509-4796-1 |pages=91 }} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129723/locations|title = Z Cars (TV Series 1962–1978) – IMDb| publisher=IMDb }} Retail units have been built on the site of the former base since its demolition.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ruislip.co.uk/usaf-ruislip.html Ruislip Online feature about the base]
{{Strategic Air Command}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:South Ruislip}}
Category:Royal Air Force stations in London
Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in the United Kingdom
Category:Former buildings and structures in the London Borough of Hillingdon
Category:Military history of Middlesex