The UHMRA brings back memories here, too. In 1979 I flew a military helicopter there for a pre booked event. ATC held us off to the south, despite being in full view of the airfield, for so long that I was getting concerned about our fuel state. They then called us into the area but to our surprise began vectoring us east, away from the airfield. Ten miles away in fact. I was then cleared me for the ILS, despite us having arrived under VFR.
The ATCO was totally flummoxed when I told him the aircraft didn't carry ILS equipment.