Excerpts from Cap. Chapman.

Our special thanks to Ms. Robin Chapman who kindly granted us permission to display his father's pictures. It's a symbolic tribute to those brave young men who sailed from Recife bound to an unknown tiny forgotten island in the mid of south Atlantic to carve a rock and erect one of the most important  military outpost of the War.

The staggering array of Buldozers, Graders, Rollers, Tractors, Trucks and men who build the airfield in 40 days.

Capt, Chapman cited on newspaper.

Picture shows a steel arch hangar being erected at Ascension.

Detail of the runway taking shape. The super human effort which began on 1st April ended on July 10, when the first American plane landed on the runway.

Flocks of Sooty terns spread accros the runway at Ascension Airfield. It was a matter of great concern because they represented a menace to aircraft on take off. 

Potable water was one of the most critical commodity at the island. With the arrival of thousands of troops the problem became more accute. Rationing was imposed to everyone. On the placard are written the restrictions to its use.

Without Ascension Airfield the hop to African bases would be far too long especially for twin engine aircrafts which crossed the Atlantic by thousands.

Men from US 38th Engineer Regiment along with the British Garrison help to lay a pipeline, vital for the transport and machines involved in the building of the Airfield.

One anti aircraft gun and its garrison seen at Ascension. Although the possibillity of any Axis attack from the air seemed unlikely the US Army took precautionary measures to defend the island against any intruder.

SS. Julia  Luckenbach