US AIR FORCE B-52 bombers were spotted yesterday morning (Thursday February 10) flying over Wales, heading for RAF Fairford.
Four B-52s set off from their Minot Air Base in North Dakota around 2am GMT.
RAF Fighter Jets joined the B-52s as they arrived in the UK ahead of a busy schedule of training missions with the European Command and US Strategic Command.
Two planes through over North Wales, and a further two took a more southerly route, flying close to Pembrokeshire.
B-52’s are deploying to the UK shortly as part of a ‘Bomber Task Force’ training mission to “familiarise themselves” with European airspace.
The strategic bombers, support equipment, and personnel from the 69th Bomber Squadron have arrived at RAF Fairford after a transatlantic flight from Minot Air Force Base, N.D, in the latest iteration of the regular Bomber Task Force Missions.
Taking place since 2018, what the Bomber Task Force deployments provide is the opportunity for the RAF to continuously improve interoperability with the United States Air Force, as well as offer RAF pilots valuable training experience with near-peer capabilities.
The RAF says they “throughout their deployment, the United States Air Force aircraft will be based at RAF Fairford providing an ideal staging location for further integration with NATO allies. ”
“The protection of the UK Homeland through Quick Reaction Alert is just one example of national defence that is woven into maintaining regional, collective defence through this close partnership with NATO allies.”
Air Vice-Marshal Robinson, Air Officer Commanding 11 Group, said: “The RAF has a long, proud history of working alongside the United States Air Force that continues to see shared training, exchange tours and close operational partnerships to this day.”
“This close friendship was celebrated recently with a joint UK/US flypast celebrating 80 years of collaboration with one of US Bomber Command’s oldest units, the 8th Air Force.”
“The Bomber Task Force missions allow UK/US to challenge each other toward continuous growth and development as part of NATO and supporting the NATO Air Policing mission.”
“The joint missions reinforce the commitment of both nations to NATO and collective defence, the most recent sortie providing a demonstration of the critical ability for a timely and coordinated response to defending the Euro-Atlantic area and, if required, the ability to reach forward locations.”
En route the US Bombers integrated with UK Joint Terminal Attack Controllers at both Cape Wrath in the North of Scotland and RAF Holbeach Air Weapons Range in the East of England, conducting bilateral Close Air Support training.
The mission focused on enhancing readiness and interoperability for the controllers responsible for coordinating airstrikes to support ground forces.
Colonel Bolam, Commanding Officer Joint Air Liaison Organisation, said: “Today’s training provides a valuable opportunity for the UK JTACs.”
“Working with different nationalities and a variety of aircraft types ensures the UK remains a world leading force in Close Air Support and Air Land Integration.”
“Training with B-52s further cements Joint Training Tactics and Procedures and ensures the UK can safely and accurately deliver Air-to-Ground fires alongside our NATO allies.”
