Royal Air Force Station Ascension Island, Military aerodrome in Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean
Royal Air Force Station Ascension Island is a military aerodrome on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, supporting military flights between the United Kingdom and the Falkland Islands. The runway stretches across black lava rock near the western coast, surrounded by barren volcanic landscape and the ocean.
The United States built the facility in 1942 during the Second World War as a stopover for transport aircraft heading to Africa and Asia. After the war ended, the Royal Air Force took control while American units remained for space tracking and communication.
Staff at the station use the name Wideawake Field in daily conversation, taken from a nearby colony of sooty terns that call loudly at night. The joint use by British and American units shows in the facilities, where both flags fly and English serves as the working language.
Visitors require authorization from the Ascension Island Government as the site is a restricted military zone and access is only possible with scheduled charter flights. The hot climate and strong winds make sun protection and sturdy clothing necessary if a visit is permitted.
The facility serves as an emergency landing site for NASA space shuttles, with the long runway being one of the few in the Atlantic designated for space mission emergencies. Large green turtles nest near the runway, occasionally causing delays in flight operations when animals cross the tarmac.
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