A military milestone

Ascension Island is marking its decisive role in the 1982 liberation of the Falklands with a 40th anniversary set of commemorative stamps.

Although Ascension Island is 3,500 miles from the Falklands, it was key to the operation. Before the task force was established in the South Atlantic, Ascension, with its good anchorage and excellent aviation facilities, was ideal as forward operating base for ‘Operation Corporate’. Remote, and easy to defend, its main roles were logistics support and as a base for RAF operations.

The four-stamp set, designed by Andrew Robinson, depict military hardware involved in ‘Operation Corporate’. The 20p stamp shows a Victor tanker aircraft. The RAF craft’s refuelling capacity was invaluable to the overall success of Operation Black Buck, the bombing of Stanley Airfield by Vulcan aircraft campaign, and to many the Victors were the unsung heroes of the forces that flew from the 10,091ft Ascension runway known as Wideawake.

Ascension was convenient for shipping of stores and personnel, and for amphibious ships to re-stow their equipment – the 35p stamp depicts a vessel. The 50p stamp shows the single Sea King from 202 Squadron and Chinook that covered air transport, particularly stores movement and replenishment for shipping.

Local air defence is the subject of the £3 stamp. It shows one of the three Sidewinder armed Harrier GR.3’S that were initially used to safeguard the island until the arrival of more suitable 29(F) Squadron Phantom FGR.2’S from 24 May 1982.

Issue date: 22 June 2022