2711th Air Police Squadron

• Strategic Location: The 2711th Air Police Squadron was primarily stationed at RAF Chicksands, England, a key United States Air Force (USAF) base during the Cold War, supporting intelligence and security operations. • Cold War Mission: Their main role involved base security and law enforcement, protecting sensitive intelligence-gathering installations such as the massive “Elephant Cage” AN/FLR-9 antenna array used for signals intelligence. • Early Formation: The unit was activated in the early 1950s, coinciding with the expansion of USAF security forces in response to rising tensions between the US and Soviet Union. • Guarding Top Secret Operations: Members of the 2711th Air Police Squadron were entrusted with the security of operations run by the USAF Security Service (USAFSS) and the National Security Agency (NSA), often working under strict secrecy. • International Cooperation: The squadron worked closely with the Royal Air Force Police and British authorities, reflecting the importance of allied cooperation during the Cold War in Europe. • Distinguished Service: The Squadron was commended for its professionalism and discipline, especially during heightened alert periods such as the Berlin Crisis (1961) and Cuban Missile Crisis (1962). • Community Involvement: Beyond military duties, members participated in local British community activities, fostering goodwill between American personnel and the local population. • Transition to Security Police: In the late 1960s, the Air Police were re-designated as Security Police, reflecting evolving roles to include counter-sabotage and air base ground defense, which affected the 2711th as well. • Legacy: Many veterans of the 2711th Air Police Squadron went on to have distinguished careers in law enforcement and security, carrying forward the values instilled during their service. • Closure and Inactivation: With changes in US defense posture and the eventual drawdown of American forces in the UK, the 2711th Air Police Squadron was inactivated in the early 1970s, but its legacy remains commemorated by veterans and historians.