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From the archive, first published Friday 16th Sep 2005.
RAF Lyneham will be the scene of a massive security operation when defence ministers from the European Union meet there next month.
The event is regarded by staff at the airbase as a great honour.
Britain's defence minister John Reid will join his counterparts from around Europe at the gathering on Thursday October 13.
All 24 defence ministers have been invited but it is not yet known how many will turn up for the day, which is to be hosted by Mr Reid.
Among the subjects to be discussed will be the European forces mission in Bosnia.
The day-long event will feature a display of British military capability involving all three services.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "There will be a fly-past, a demonstration of air-to-air refuelling and a re-enactment of a quick reaction deployment.
"There are no decisions expected at the meeting but it should be a very informative event, and clearly a historic moment for Lyneham."
An RAF Lyneham spokesman said: "The display will be designed to demonstrate UK military capability in the context of EU operations, which are humanitarian and peace-keeping focused.
"This is definitely an honour for Lyneham. I would imagine they looked at several units but settled on Lyneham because it's the ideal location to display the capabilities of all three services."
The informal meeting will be held in the officer's mess before ministers watch the display by the RAF, the army and the Royal Navy.
The meeting is being held in Britain because of the UK's presidency of the EU, which continues until the end of this year.
The Lyneham meeting will be used to set the agenda for a formal meeting in Brussels later in the year.
Operations at the base will be minimised during the build-up to the day and security is to be stepped up.
The airbase has also been named as having the best air traffic control squadron in the RAF last year.
To mark the achievement the station was given a special award by Alastair Blair, managing director of Raytheon Systems, which produces radar and air traffic management systems.
Almost 35,000 aircraft movements were recorded at Lyneham last year and air traffic control staff assisted aircraft in emergencies on 70 occasions.
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