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RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

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TankBuster
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by TankBuster » Tue Apr 18, 2017 1:32 pm

We all said it was a stupid idea to close Mildenhall in the first place. When they started to look at re-locating assets it created more problems than it did solutions & no doubt would have incurred unnecessary costs along the way too!

TankBuster.
And there's plenty more where that came from!

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paddyboy
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by paddyboy » Tue Apr 18, 2017 3:00 pm

Well said, TB :thumbs:

Oh, can I say a YIPPEE too (even if it is a tad premature) :lol:

Paddyboy :clap:
XH558, always the first lady in my life
Just remember, please don't tell the wife


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grumpy616
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by grumpy616 » Wed Apr 19, 2017 6:09 am

Keep those fingers crossed guys...

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Thunder
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Thunder » Wed Apr 19, 2017 2:23 pm

With the increase in transiting CONUS based units either from/to the Gulf or Eastern Europe over the last 3 years, do you think that someone high up the ladder within the USAF is trying his/her darnedest to prove the value of Mildenhall or just a coincidence?

Lossie
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Lossie » Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:13 pm

Related to the above point does anyone know why (for all I know the above could be the reason) some CONUS-based units are now using Lakenheath going to or from the Gulf? Is great but just curious as for about 10 years it was always Moron, Lajes, Rota etc on the southerly route.

Keflavik69
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Keflavik69 » Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:19 pm

It MIGHT have to do with the reduction of US presence at Lajes, which was forreseen in the same BRAC package as the intended closure of Mildenhall.
When that is the case the planned changes have a silver lining for you guys in the UK.

Arnold

Snoop 95
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Snoop 95 » Thu Apr 20, 2017 8:00 am

Oh dear. Looks like the initial euphoria was without foundation if this article from the EADT is correct: http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/shutting-raf ... -1-4979025
Snoop, down in the dumps again.

Supra
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Supra » Thu Apr 20, 2017 9:38 am

There's nothing in that parochial page-filler article that's really news per se. Close as I can see they have recycled old information interspersed with personal/local views to form an article (like most media outlets).
They have chosen to rely on the following extract..."In response to the report by Stars and Stripes, Lieutenant Colonel David Faggard, EUCOM spokesman, said: “EUCOM has not initiated any official request to review any of the sites planned for closure under EIC."
Doesn't mean to say that nobody back home in the US hasn't suggested 'initiating a review'. The best part of the article & sound advice too, plan for the drawdown schedule as published & any variation will be a bonus?

page_verify
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by page_verify » Thu Apr 20, 2017 12:18 pm

I bet a beancounter somewhere hates the RC-135s right now........ :Oops:

Spitfire88
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Spitfire88 » Fri May 05, 2017 5:20 pm

Iv just been speaking to a nameless RAF source, who has said that the RC135s will be moving to Fairford in two years time, he said " it's defiantly happening, i was in the meeting"

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TankBuster
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by TankBuster » Fri May 05, 2017 7:38 pm

That could be an interesting move, I wonder if that will have any affect on future RIAT shows?
Didn't they scrub the Waddo shows because they no longer wanted the public wandering around on an installation that deals with intelligence gathering etc?

Still seems daft to move it all out of Mildenhall when the base is already up and running for such operations.

TankBuster
And there's plenty more where that came from!

MRTT
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by MRTT » Fri May 05, 2017 8:01 pm

Interesting, to say the least.

Can't see it having an effect on RIAT, they managed to hold the show with '135s based there.

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Agent K » Fri May 05, 2017 9:01 pm

Spitfire88 wrote:Iv just been speaking to a nameless RAF source, who has said that the RC135s will be moving to Fairford in two years time, he said " it's defiantly happening, i was in the meeting"
I'm looking forward to them "defiantly" moving them to Fairford. As for your RAF source, he's in breech of his official secrets act signature, you should name and report him.

Meanwhile my best friends dogs groomers husbands Uncle is an Air Vice Marshall in the RAF and told me they're basing them at RAF Henlow.

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Nighthawke
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Nighthawke » Fri May 05, 2017 9:34 pm

So the AVM should know better too... :whistle:

Tally-ho
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Tally-ho » Sat May 06, 2017 7:05 am

Spitfire88 wrote:Iv just been speaking to a nameless RAF source, who has said that the RC135s will be moving to Fairford in two years time, he said " it's defiantly happening, i was in the meeting"
The "nameless RAF source" was "defiantly" (in defiance of sense and sensibility) spouting forth unnecessarily - definitely defiantly.

johnwayne
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by johnwayne » Sun May 07, 2017 9:24 am

Spitfire88 wrote:Iv just been speaking to a nameless RAF source, who has said that the RC135s will be moving to Fairford in two years time, he said " it's defiantly happening, i was in the meeting"
That'll be AVM Paul Bolton then... ;)

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by quid21 » Sun May 07, 2017 9:39 am

TankBuster wrote:That could be an interesting move, I wonder if that will have any affect on future RIAT shows?
Didn't they scrub the Waddo shows because they no longer wanted the public wandering around on an installation that deals with intelligence gathering etc?

Still seems daft to move it all out of Mildenhall when the base is already up and running for such operations.

TankBuster
The USAF held countless air shows while RC-135s were deployed at Mildenhall. I remember one coming back from an operational mission doing a fly past before landing at one Air fete. Not to mention while the SR's were there. So long as anything secretive is the far side of the runway from the public viewing areas there's no problem.

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by page_verify » Sun May 07, 2017 10:18 am

Confirmation of the world's worst kept secret has finally happened - surely if the RAF's RC-135s are moving to Fairford then.... .... ....

Agent K - that kind of information isn't "classified" these days, so I doubt there's any OSA issues, more commercial in confidence breaches if anything.....

Lossie
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Lossie » Fri May 12, 2017 11:10 am

Michael Fallon to ask SecDef about Mildenhall.
http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/elect ... -1-5011816

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by page_verify » Wed May 24, 2017 8:50 am

It's finally happened according to the US FY18 Defense Budget

Closure of RAF Mildenhall is driving the relocation of the 488 IS and 95 RS from RAF Mildenhall to RAF Fairford. No facility is available for the 488 IS to support the RC-135 mission coming to RAF Fairford. There are no facilities on RAF Fairford for the 95 RS to use as a squadron operations facility.
In addition, failure to provide an adequate permanent facility for the 488 IS and 95 RS will prevent the timely closure of RAF Mildenhall and puts at risk the associated base operating and support (BOS) costs savings associated with European Infrastructure Consolidation (EIC) until new permanent facilities are constructed at RAF Fairford.


RAF Fairford is an inactive base utilized for numerous training missions with partner nations to include B-52, B-1, B-2, and other aircraft. Future missions include the RC-135.

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM FISCAL YEAR 2018
INDEX - OUTSIDE THE US

RAF Fairford
European Infrastructure Consolidation - RC-135 Intel and Squad Ops Facility - $38m
European Infrastructure Consolidation - RC-135 Runway Overrun Reconfiguration - $5.5m
European Infrastructure Consolidation - RC-135 Infrastructure - $2.15m

For reference

RAF Lakenheath
Consolidated Corrosion Control Facility - $20m
F-35A F-15 Parking $10.8m
F-35A Flight Simulator Facility $22m
F-35A Field Training Detachment Facility - $12.492m
F-35A Infrastructure - $6.7m
F-35A 6-Bay Hangar $24m
F-35A Squadron Operations and AMU $41m

RAF Mildenhall
Nothing


The source document is here http://www.saffm.hq.af.mil/Portals/84/d ... 153715-980

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