Ascension : 25th Anniversary of Falklands Liberation
Submitted by The Islander (Ascension Island Government) 24.05.2007 (Article Archived on 07.06.2007)

New Stamp Issue - “It is entirely right and proper that Ascension Island should be remembered on the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands War.

 In the “lessons learnt from Operation Corporate”, the Commander-in-Chief Fleet said “Although 3500 miles from the Falklands, Ascension Island was vital to the success of the operation.  It provided an airhead for transferring men and stores to ships, an operational multi-role airfield, a communications facility and a military training area.  The consequent need for facilities was met with outstanding improvisation.”

Commodore Clapp, Commander of the Amphibious Task Group went further, saying “without Ascension Island there would have been no Operation Corporate”.

The above is an excerpt from the liner card that is inserted in each of the official first day covers for this special stamp issue.  The text was compiled for the Post Office by Captain Bob McQueen, Commander British Forces Support Unit, Ascension 1982.

The full story is told in a short book called “Island Base” by Captain Bob McQueen, and is available on island from the Obsidian Hotel.

The stamp issue comprises two souvenir sheets each with four stamps depicting aircraft and ships.  Denominations and motifs are as follows:

35p – HMS Tidespring re-fuelling HMS Antrim.  Together with HMS Plymouth the three ships had been ordered to “proceed with despatch” to Ascension on 7^th April.  On 20^th April Prime Minister Thatcher ordered the recapture of South Georgia – “Operation Paraquet”, which was led by the Antrim group.

35p – Without the re-fuelling capabilities of the Victor the Black Buck raids on the Falklands would simply not have been possible.  Air re-fuelling proved itself to be a formidable force extender throughout Operation Corporate.

40p – Vickers VC10 Transport Vehicle, providing a direct link with the UK for the transportation of both men and supplies.

40p – HMS Dumbarton Castle. A Castle Class offshore patrol vessel, HMS Dumbarton Castle was commissioned in March 1982.  She briefly fulfilled the vital role of the RMS St Helena, which had sailed with the Task Force.  Helicopters accounted for the greater proportion of overall sorties flown and were vital to the contribution of Ascension to the war.  Here a Chinook is shown transporting supplies.  Sea Kings (50p) and Wessex 5 were also used extensively.

50p – Entering service in 1969, two Nimrods from 42 Squadron arrived on Ascension 6^th April to form the 1^st permanent RAF detachment as part of Operation Corporate.  Within 2 weeks these were replaced by the more capable Nimrod MR2.  Being vulnerable during daylight sorties flown close to the enemy coastline the Nimrods were later modified to carry Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.

£1.25 – The Atlantic Conveyor transported supplies, helicopters and Harriers to Ascension.  On arrival at Ascension the Harriers were “unwrapped” and redistributed within the fleet.

£1.25 – Vulcan XM607 is shown leaving Ascension on what was to become the longest successful combat flight in history.