1975 Strike Command becomes the Headquarters of U.K. Air Forces

click Bomber Command for more articles about this famous RAF Headquarters

Hallmark April 1975. Thursday April 10th 1975 saw one of the most colourful days in the life of the Parish, when the Union Jack and all the flags of the NATO countries were hoisted outside Strike Command at Walters Ash.

Twelve jet fighters made a flight over the flags in a fly-past as part of a ceremony to mark the appointment to R.A.F. Strike Command of Air Officer Commander-in-Chief, Air Chief Marshall Sir Dennis Smallwood, as Commander-in-Chief United Kingdom Air Forces within the Nato Alliance.

On 10th April 1975 Strike Command became a major subordinate of NATO Command to be known as Head Quarters United Kingdom Air Forces. RAF Strike Command is by far the largest and most important part of the Royal Air Force and today controls all the front line combat aircraft in the UK and worldwide, with the exception of RAF Germany, The A O C in charge (a NATO appointment) is Air Chief Marshall Sir David Craig.

'The Bunker' of which we have heard so much of late, is not, as has been rumoured, to be a storehouse for nuclear weapons, but an-up-to-date control centre for the air defence of this country and our NATO allies.

The skill with which the huge pipe trench along Smalldean Lane has already been filled in and reseeded should go a long way to reassure us that the gigantic scar caused by the work on the 'bunker' itself will eventually merge into the hillside so that nature may finish the restoration.