RAF South Ruislip | |
|---|---|
| South Ruislip, Middlesex, England | |
 Entrance to the base | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Military headquarters |
| Condition | Site redeveloped |
| Location | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 51°33′21″N00°22′57″W / 51.55583°N 0.38250°W /51.55583; -0.38250 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1948-49 |
| Demolished | 1995 |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Third Air Force |
RAF South Ruislip, also known asSouth Ruislip Air Station, was a non-flying Air Force station located inSouth Ruislip near London, England. Located close toRAF Northolt, the station was used by theUnited States Air Force'sThird Air Force from 1949 until 1972, when the headquarters were moved toRAF Mildenhall.
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) and7th Air Division activities in Great Britain with theBritish Government.[1] The site was leased from theMinistry of Defence.[2] Logistical and support functions were located atRAF West Ruislip, leased by theUnited States Navy from the Ministry of Defence.[1] All flying support was located atRAF 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 atRAF Eastcote in the 1950s, later joined by other welfare facilities.[5] In 1970, American teenagersDewey Bunnell,Dan Peek andGerry Beckley, whose fathers were stationed at the base, formed the folk rock groupAmerica.[6]
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.[7]
In 1972 the Third Air Force moved operations from the station to RAF Mildenhall.[8] 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,[9] but were used by theBBC as a filming location for the final series of thetelevisionpolicedramaZ Cars between 1977 and 1978.[10] Retail units have been built on the site of the former base since its demolition.
