during world war ii, to supply and augment extensive amphibious aircraft antisubmarine patrol operations ongoing from the early days of the war, the united states built an airbase on ascension island, known as "wideawake", after a nearby colony of sooty terns (locally called 'wideawake' birds because of their loud, distinctive constant (day-and-night) cawing chatter. the airbase, which was under construction by the 38th combat engineer battalion of the army corps of engineers, was unexpectedly visited by two british fairey swordfish torpedo planes on 15 june 1942. according to one of the pilots, peter jinks, the planes were fired upon before being recognised as allies. the swordfish had to land on the unfinished airstrip, thus becoming the first aircraft to land on ascension island proper — which had long served as an anti-submarine warfare base for consolidated pby catalina flying boats. the event was commemorated with a postage stamp 15 june 1982.