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Mission accomplished: RAF Mildenhall control tower signs off

U.S. Air Forces in Europe

Release Date: 6/8/2004

By Tech. Sgt. Kelley Stewart

100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England (USAFENS) -- The rainy weather predicted by weather forecasters held off, and under a blue sky, the last radio transmission from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England's old air traffic control tower here was made May 30.

In front of the new tower, more than 125 military members and distinguished visitors listened to Squadron Leader James Savage, RAF Station commander, and Col. Richard T. Devereaux, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, speak about the history of the old air traffic control tower before an aircraft formation consisting of a Lancaster bomber, a Spitfire and a Hurricane flew past.

"As many of you will already know, this year will mark the 70th anniversary of the opening of RAF Mildenhall, and this is our first opportunity to celebrate that landmark," said Squadron Leader Savage, referring to how the control tower is woven into the history of the RAF base.

He also touched on the D-Day invasion and how the base and the control tower here, played an important part in that event.

"In the early morning of D-Day, 35 Lancaster bombers from the station attacked German gun emplacements at a little town called Ouistreham on the Normandy coast," he said. "These gun emplacements lay opposite Sword Beach, the objective of the 1st Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment. Later that evening, Mildenhall's bombers were airborne again - this time to attack German lines of communication through which supplies were to flow to the formidable and fanatical SS Hitler Youth Division."

The bombers from RAF Mildenhall carried more than 320 tons of bombs; believed to be a record for any RAF station on D-Day.

And continuing on with history, the Lancaster bomber, received the last radio call from the old control tower.

"For the last 18 months of World War II, the missions flown from here were flown in the famous Lancaster bomber," Colonel Devereaux said. "This is why we thought it fitting to have our last radio call made to the last flying Lancaster in Britain."

With that, Col. Devereaux and Squadron Leader Savage stood at attention, facing the old control tower, as the drone of the Lancaster's engines could be heard and the aircraft formation slowly flew down the expanse of runway.

Over the loud speakers, guests could hear the crackle of the radio as Ron Pearson, an RAF controller who was stationed here in 1948 and again in the 1950s when the U.S. Air Force moved here, radioed the pilot giving him permission for a fly past.

The formation circled overhead and flew over the new control tower complex heading toward the old tower. The ground seemed to rumble as the formation flew past at about 500 feet.

The loud speakers crackled to life again as the Lancaster pilot requested permission to depart the air space.

Permission was granted with these words, "Memorial Flight frequency change approved. This is RAF Mildenhall Tower signing out after 70 years of service. We salute the men and women who have served our nations for the cause of freedom. RAF Mildenhall Tower, Bldg. 662, is over and out."