Skip to content

8 May 2025 | 1 minute read


8 May 2025 | 1 minute read


Features

Share this

VE Day at Aldermaston

80 years ago, the European part of the Second World War came to an end. On the 8th of May 1945 – known as Victory in Europe Day or VE Day – celebrations erupted around the world to mark this. 

Aldermaston had played its part in the liberation of Western Europe as it formed the launch point and training ground for American airborne operations for the 101st Airborne Division, nicknamed the “Screaming Eagles”, during D-Day a year earlier and the failed Operation Market Garden.

Operation Market Garden © USAAF USA.gov

The site also supported the 101st when they were under siege in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and served as a base for photographic reconnaissance missions over northern France in preparation for the invasion. 

General McAuliffe briefing troops, September 1944 © USAAF USA.gov

Operation Keokuk at Aldermaston  © USAAF USA.gov

Aldermaston became a quieter place after the resident unit moved to France in February 1945 and, four months later, the station was returned to the Royal Air Force, being used only as a stopover on the way to the continent rather than as an operation base.  

Meanwhile, in the United States, the first Director of AWE William Penney was heavily involved in the end of the conflict in the Pacific Theatre, changing the face of the post-war world before returning to the UK and leading the nation’s sovereign atomic weapons programme, taking over the airfield to become AWE as we know it today.  

Although Aldermaston’s time as a centre of war time activity has passed, we’re proud that the site played an important role in securing the victory that we celebrate today. 

We are proud to be commemorating AWE’s 75th year this year, and throughout we’ll be sharing more stories and memories from our long history of keeping the nation safe.   

More news

A commemorative display in a grand room with marble columns and historic portraits, showcasing AWE's 75-year timeline of nuclear security technologies from the 1940s to the present, under the slogan 'Proud of our past. Prepared for the future.'

Latest News

75 Years of AWE: A landmark innovation showcase

On 16 October, AWE marked a major milestone in its history with the ‘AWE75: Proud of our past. Prepared for our future.’ event at the Institution of Civil Engineers, London. The event saw over 100 guests from across government, academia and the defence community gather to commemorate AWE’s legacy and look ahead to our future.

Latest News

Future talent celebrated at graduation event

AWE has marked a major milestone in its early careers programme with the graduation of 35 apprentices. The event celebrated the achievements of individuals who have completed programmes across a range of technical disciplines and who now join the workforce supporting one of the UK’s most critical national security missions.

Connect - the newsletter for AWE's neighbours - Autumn 2025

Community News

Connect – Autumn 2025

Welcome to the extended version of Connect Thank you for taking the time to read the printed leaflet you received in the post, and for scanning the QR code to discover more. Taking some of our content online has enabled us to reduce the printing associated with Connect by more than half, supporting our environmental […]

Search Sitemap Sitemap XML