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

[johnwayne]

Thanks GL - glad someone's got their feet on the ground rather than head in the clouds .

[page_verify]

So errr no change then really!

[city42]

So errr no change then really!

IM Totally loosed some one say Rc135 was said at meeting and then some one say thay must be on about the Kc135

[Agent K]

IM Totally loosed some one say Rc135 was said at meeting and then some one say thay must be on about the Kc135

?

[thevulcan]

So time for the facts As far as the residents are aware the base is to become more active in the coming years with operations. Including RC-135 Ops fairford is currently sat on a gold mine (and no I don't mean the gravel pits in which some would rather see the airfield turned into ). Three years worth of allocated DOD money has been unused at fairford for three years even though the money has been allocated, below is an overview
FY2018 (Upgrading Fairford to a DAB this including installing new communications lines as well as lighting and upgrading the bomb dump area as well as resurfacing and upgrading to common standard the North Eastern loop at Fairford )

FY2019 (New munitions areas to allow long term bomber rotations as part of EDI[European Detterance Initiative] this work includes two new munitions holding areas on the base one on the Eastern and one on the Western end's. This is something bomber task force unit's have been asking for since 2014)

FY2020(RC-135 infrastructure this includes the work on the overruns and a new four bay hangar and an ISTAR hub this work was originally proposed in the FY2019 budget but due to flooding at Offut funding was removed from fairford.)

This money totals around $508,000,000 this money has been given to fairford to utilise. After nearly three years of delays the first bits of the FY2018 budget is being fulfilled with pathfinder communications going in and the North Eastern loop is to be resurfaced in september time. There is a letter posted by the team in charge of construction at fairford who said that phases 1-3 (FY2018, FY2019, FY2020) work will begin shortly in September simultaneously as the money is there and has always been there. If for whatever reason which I highly doubt the RC's don't move the multipurpose hangar will still be built as I imagine the USAF will want it to be B52 capable considering they are in service till at least 2050 and will be deployed to fairford.
This is the facts for now however things do change decisions are revoked and I fully understand that it is not fair to be debating peoples livelihoods on here. If the work begins on the pans in September I will not be surprised if the overruns are done as well.

Below is a USAFE article about installing the communications wires. It states that work on phases 2 and 3 is to start late summer ie September and that a plan for the rest of the base will be finalised the intresting thing about this is that at this time the Mildenhall closure decision was put on hold and despite that the work at fairford is said to be continuing as normal.
https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-D ... -fairford/

[mushbuster]

Vulcan, perhaps you could post your sources, you are posting hearsay, suppositions and misunderstandings again.

[thevulcan]

I would mushbuster sadly though the sources are either pdf documents or word files which I am unable to post a link to.

[DILLIGAF1]

So time for the facts As far as the residents are aware the base is to become more active in the coming years with operations. Including RC-135 Ops fairford is currently sat on a gold mine (and no I don't mean the gravel pits in which some would rather see the airfield turned into ). Three years worth of allocated DOD money has been unused at fairford for three years even though the money has been allocated, below is an overview
FY2018 (Upgrading Fairford to a DAB this including installing new communications lines as well as lighting and upgrading the bomb dump area as well as resurfacing and upgrading to common standard the North Eastern loop at Fairford )

FY2019 (New munitions areas to allow long term bomber rotations as part of EDI[European Detterance Initiative] this work includes two new munitions holding areas on the base one on the Eastern and one on the Western end's. This is something bomber task force unit's have been asking for since 2014)

FY2020(RC-135 infrastructure this includes the work on the overruns and a new four bay hangar and an ISTAR hub this work was originally proposed in the FY2019 budget but due to flooding at Offut funding was removed from fairford.)

This information is easily accessible on the net by all if people look. Including location of all the new facilities and hangar. Things can and do change, but as it stands this is what is going to happen. RC135 will be at Fairford hence the extra traffic as I stated 3x per week average. No KC135s they will be at Mildenhall.

This money totals around $508,000,000 this money has been given to fairford to utilise. After nearly three years of delays the first bits of the FY2018 budget is being fulfilled with pathfinder communications going in and the North Eastern loop is to be resurfaced in september time. There is a letter posted by the team in charge of construction at fairford who said that phases 1-3 (FY2018, FY2019, FY2020) work will begin shortly in September simultaneously as the money is there and has always been there. If for whatever reason which I highly doubt the RC's don't move the multipurpose hangar will still be built as I imagine the USAF will want it to be B52 capable considering they are in service till at least 2050 and will be deployed to fairford.
This is the facts for now however things do change decisions are revoked and I fully understand that it is not fair to be debating peoples livelihoods on here. If the work begins on the pans in September I will not be surprised if the overruns are done as well.

Below is a USAFE article about installing the communications wires. It states that work on phases 2 and 3 is to start late summer ie September and that a plan for the rest of the base will be finalised the intresting thing about this is that at this time the Mildenhall closure decision was put on hold and despite that the work at fairford is said to be continuing as normal.
https://www.usafe.af.mil/News/Article-D ... -fairford/

[johnwayne]

If its of any assistance re - Fairford , the DoD Budget FY2020 'Construction Programs C-1' (roughly 300 pages) published Mar 2019 included $46M for RC135 infrastructure , Intel & Squadron Ops Facility , & runway overrun reconfiguration . The same document for FY2021 published Feb 2020 does not appear to have any of these items included . Both documents (i.e. FY's 2020 & 2021) do include $87M for construction of DABS-FEV storage , and $19M for munitions holding area . Link to FY2021 document follows https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals ... 021_c1.pdf . See pages 92 , 161 , &166 . Just keeping it factual and I wouldn't care to speculate what this means .

[baz1]

facts is what we need and not speculation!!

[Cranberry]

There’s no news on the RC-135 relocation, that’s from the base commander’s update at last night’s residents’ meeting.

[Spitfire88]

There’s no news on the RC-135 relocation, that’s from the base commander’s update at last night’s residents’ meeting.

The meeting in question happened Monday night

[Cranberry]

I can’t keep up, sorry! I know there was a meeting early in the week with no base leadership and one later in the week where there was

[thevulcan]

Indeed I too cannot keep up however the residents in marston meysey seemed pretty convinced however reliable that is. I know that the North Eastern loop is due to begin resurfacement before the end of the year that is fact. John Wayne that is interesting to see however as other have stated it appears not even the base knows whats happening anymore.

[Spitfire88]

Information I have from the residents meeting that’s just been sent to me:

They were told at the Marston Meysey meeting that the next deployment was the B52'S but where not told when ( we probably think it will be in September )
They were told that Mildenhall is to remain active but were not given information about whether the 95th will move over.
They also said there would be an increase in flying activity in the future but not as much as was scheduled.
Still open for debate.

This information is from a person that was present at the meeting, I’m sorry it’s not conclusive either way.
I have contacted the liaison officer at Fairford to see if I can get an answer either way, I’m not expecting much of a reply if any.

[thevulcan]

In other news the F-15E pan has been completed at Lakenheath to allow for the F35A arrival next year.
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/376004/st ... 6NlIkmJCt4

[Nighthawke]

[C24]

I would like to thank everyone for their posts.

The situation seems to be summarised as no one is in possession of any ‘real’ Facts, watch this space.

[Nighthawke]

That's been the situation for most of the 68 pages so far!

[Spitfire88]

See my update post in the Fairford section