RAF Lakenheath closure (speculative)

[Jammo]

I think the USAF should purchase Norwich International Airport, drastically extend the runway and have the AMC ramp there, i know of a few people who would like that
Now THAT sounds like a plan

[Skip]

I'm building a hard stand in my garden for the C-5s as we speak!

[Supra]

This post needs closing...myself and my American friends at Lakenheath are growing increaseingly annoyed that this garbage is still being circulated...LAKENHEATH IS NOT CLOSING!!!!

The only bit I can agree with is "This post needs closing" Clearly you & your American friends are in denial, now joined by a leading authority on the US. Defence Budget Drawdowns, the two tanker drivers from Mildenhall
After several pages of reasoned conjecture as to why this WILL happen, you seek to rely on the opinions of friends with insider knowledge to damn the facts as rumour-mongering. It has been stated by myself & others on many different forums, that infrastructure & improvements to a base historically signals end of life....& that those most likely to be affected are often the last to know. For many (but not all!) Service Personnel it's just a job & without a proper briefing on a given subject they wouldn't know their arse from their elbow!
Bottom-line is that an airman, pilot , Base Commander or Chief of USAF has no say in Lakenheath staying open, new jets/old jets, who cares?...the decision will be made by US. politicians who, having read the recommendations to retain the UK bases, unanimously vote to close anything that saves money from outside Continental USA, brings prosperity, jobs & spending back home, but more importantly...gets them re-elected!!
God bless America,Land of the Free!.... Coz' if it wasn't 'free' that would suffer cut-backs too! In life there's only 1 certainty... s**t happens!

[stuie492]

Lakenheath not closing...but feel free to keep this garbage up...more entertaining reading

[Vulcanone]

At any point someone might actually twig, why Marham being relatively close to Lakenheath is getting F-35s

[Tronk 11]

Garbage?! Please don't insult peoples intelligence, I DON'T want any US forces going, but you have to be realistic and talk discuss this without negative comments.

I have to agree with Supra. USAFE doesn't have any politicians in the constituency, so why would they care? Too much wheeling & dealing is done by them to keep 'their' base open, aircraft being built by 'their' voters, I could go on...... Its a more tangled web than most people here can imaging.

I said in my earlier post this affects families, & I don't know anyone who would want to see them loosing their jobs. If your upset about the posts then don't look, read what it says at the top of the page 'Home of the aviation enthusiast' I'm all for seeing USAF jets in the UK. Who in their right mind would tell people that they would think their base is closing, I wouldn't as I would hate the prospects of it happening.

The problem is plain and simple, not enough money, or people not wanting to spend it. I've seen, like hundreds of others on this site, massive cuts after the cold war ended, & seen a few US friends heading home.

Does the UK government need the USAF forces in the UK, especially with our resources being reduced.

This sort of blog could go on a LONG time, but will never be answered by and of us.

[onemac]

A very high ranking RAF Staff Officer once said, and I quote, 'RAF Leuchars will be around for at least another 40 years' - that was a few years ago. And who could have imagined the actual grounding of US aircraft recently due to lack of money? Base closures around the world have gone from speculation to fact and with forces replacing aircraft on less than a one to one basis it's only a matter of time before more and more are shut down.

Politicians - a deluded bunch with the power to cut services whilst firmly believing (in their own minds) that they are providing a better actual service.

Al

[Dunk]

Hi
I maybe wrong but didn't I hear that Lakenheath was to get the F23 and do the joint maintenance with RF Marham. Does that now mean if LN closes we don't get the F23 because of maintenance costs.
MIKE.P

F23 ?!?!?!?!

[boff180]

Isn't that the Aperture you use for most of your shots Dunk?

[Dunk]

Isn't that the Aperture you use for most of your shots Dunk?

What's an aperture?

[TankBuster]

At any point someone might actually twig, why Marham being relatively close to Lakenheath is getting F-35s

A good point! There was chatter a while ago about Lakenheath housing a joint RAF USAF training and maintenance facility for the JSF. Maybe that option is still in the pot?

TankBuster

[Trenchard]

Just like I said on this thread five days ago

[tm74sqn]

The government is considering building (at Least) one new town. Given that the south-east is already overpopulated, and that one name proposed for a new town is Mildenheath, don't jump to any conclusions!
TM74

[Trenchard]

The government is considering building (at Least) one new town. Given that the south-east is already overpopulated, and that one name proposed for a new town is Mildenheath, don't jump to any conclusions!
TM74

[Unknown74]

Pardon me for asking this but I've always wondered what will replace the Eagles/ Strike Eagles when the time comes for them to retire? If it's F-35 will they base them at Lakenheath or mix them with the RAF/ RN at nearby Marham? Always assumed until Obama pulled the plug that the F-22 Raptor was heading for Lakenheath, mind you coming from someone who always assumed that Lossiemouth would be the base for RAF F-35 and Leuchars for Typhoon I think I should keep out of the basing game.

[von_trippenhopf]

The government is considering building (at Least) one new town.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ca ... e-24626952

[Supra]

At any point someone might actually twig, why Marham being relatively close to Lakenheath is getting F-35s

If this is your first visit to this topic please read from page1. The majority of points now raised are those already made & rebutted previously. Possibly the only common ground we have thus far is that 'all bets are off' as far as guarantees for each & every USAFE base's survival.

[T_J]

$10,000 reward for USAF equipment stolen from RAF Lakenheath

THE USAF is offering a reward of $10,000 to anyone with information relating to the theft of military equipment from RAF Lakenheath.
Items worth around $180,000 including advanced combat helmets, modular sleeping systems, interceptor body armor kits, and extreme cold weather boots were taken from building 1068 at the American airbase between 2011 and 2012.

In a post on RAF Lakenheath’s Facebook page, the base said: “The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) is seeking information pertaining to the person(s) responsible for and/or associated with the theft of U.S. Government equipment from building 1068 on RAF Lakenheath.

“AFOSI Detachment 512 will offer up to a $10,000 reward for information directly leading to the identification, arrest and successful conviction of these persons.”
A spokeswoman for the AFOSI told the News this was an unusual occurrence and the investigation was ongoing.
She said: “A poster has been posted both on and off base.

“Leads and support are expected to come in from many sources other than the base as this investigation moves forward. AFOSI is the lead investigative agency in this investigation.”
The Lakenheath OSI detachment can be reached by calling (01638) 547257.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Newmark ... 140433.htm

[C24]

As a long-term advocate of the need for official recognition for GB to become the 51st State of the Union, I would like to state ( ) that there will always be a case to be made for the US military to maintain base facilities on this small aircraft carrier called Britain.
Placement in this time zone is an asset when operating as a global player. Quite how politicians would place a monetary value on this is of course beyond my gift.
As to T_J's post, the boots may have done a slow march through one of Dunk's apertures.

I like to bear in mind the events of September, 1989, when the whole Intelligence community were caught out. Who knows what will happen to LN?
End of ramble. Keep posting

[Neil Owen]

What happened in September 1989?