RAF Mount Pleasant

RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands is the most recent purpose-built airfield in the RAF. The RAF had previously a small base at Port Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands. During the 1982 war, British aircraft largely destroyed that base.

After the war ended, the British still faced the problem of potential Argentine aggression in the future. HMS Invincible stayed behind after the war end to guard the islands with its squadron of Sea Harrierss. Once Port Stanley airfield was repaired, Invincible was relieved by several RAF Phantoms.

However the British government then decided to construct a new RAF base to strengthen the island's defences. Mount Pleasant, 25 miles west of Port Stanley was chosen. The airfield was opened by His Royal Highness the Duke of York in 1985.

Currently based at Mount Pleasant are No 1435 Flight with 4 Tornado F3ss, No 1312 Flight, with a single VC-10 tanker and one Hercules C1, as well as No 78 Squadron with Chinook and Sea King helicopters. Ground units include No 7, 303 and 751 Signals Units and a Rapier detachment from the RAF Regiment.