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

[Snoop 95]

A delay. Oh goodie!

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Will the 100th ARW even still exist by then.....?

[filmman]

Not surprised. I think its a case of the Germans are not keen to have the tankers. When the original noisier turbo-jet KC135s replaced the KC97Ls in Germany they refused to host them and they ended up at Mildenhall. Germany does not like military flying at weekends, bumps and grinds, bombing or supporting bombing abroad. There is a strong green and pacifist lobby and Merkel is seeking re-election. The Americans who dreamed up the move arrogantly assumed that host nations would fall in line. There is also a lack of common sense in moving support assets too far forward and away from the North Sea and Atlantic customer areas. As the whole exercise was about justifying the shutting of bases in the USA the longer the delay the less reason to shut for that reason.
Filmman

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Rumour is that the KC-135s will end up in several places around Europe.

[andrewn]

Rumour is that the KC-135s will end up in several places around Europe.

Moron, Ramstein, Fairford by any chance?

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Something like that!

[apex]

Given that the report states that the delay is due to on going discussions between the US and Germany, and how it is all going to work, rather than the logistics of moving the 100 ARW, I would say anything could happen now.

Yes they may have a plan but depending on how the discussions go and the issues raised by Filmman earlier, bearing in mind there will be at least one election in the US and Germany before 2024, it may be plan B that presents the best option, although I fear that plan A or B, or C for that matter, will not result in Mildenhall being saved, although I would love to be proved wrong if Mildenhall is still worth going to in seven years time.

[apex]

I say seven years time but appreciate flying would cease at Mildenhall well before then.

Just an afterthought, what about the RC-135 ops going to Fairford? I would guess that if Mildenhall is staying open for an extra two years, there would be the option to delay the move to Fairford by the same amount, although as Germany seems to be the stumbling block, maybe the Fairford move will go ahead as planned.

[Unknown74]

Special Ops Aircraft to Lakenheath, K.C.-135s to Brize Norton.

[MRTT]

Brize is cramped as it is, simply no room for the '135s.

[Gary]

The thing I don't understand about the SOW move. Where are they going to train in Germany. Speaking to a couple of the 480th FS pilots at RIAT they mentioned about not being allowed to operate under 2,500 feet in Germany. Unless the limit only applies to fast jets?

[Blackcat1]

Wow it used to be not below 1'000ft! That was years ago though.

[markranger]

Talk of Ramstein not being able to accept the Midlenhall tankers Until 2024.

https://www.stripes.com/tankers-move-to ... s-1.488562

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I wouldn't read too deeply into the media on these topics as they often cut out missing words or think the USAF has to move everything in one go.

The types of things the media should be reporting are things like "All RC-135 will have moved from Mildenhall by 20xx" and "The squadron that manages European KC-135 missions will have moved from Mildenhall by 20xx".
If you look at movement reports then it's already noticeable how some operations involving Mildenhall have already changed.

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The thing I don't understand about the SOW move. Where are they going to train in Germany. Speaking to a couple of the 480th FS pilots at RIAT they mentioned about not being allowed to operate under 2,500 feet in Germany. Unless the limit only applies to fast jets?

As per my point above, the 352nd SOW and its units may be based in Germany for administrative purposes and may be where it can do its airfield and medium level training. But, it's always worked closely with other special forces units from around Europe for its low level and ground based work. I wonder if there's any units near Wales that mean it'd need to find a way to still be able to train in that part of Europe?

[Snoop 95]

There was a photo of a Ramstein-based C130 going through the Mach Loop on this Forum recently and that suggests to me that the SOG may continue to use the UK's Low-Fly areas even after they move.

[davekench]

Not surprised. I think its a case of the Germans are not keen to have the tankers. When the original noisier turbo-jet KC135s replaced the KC97Ls in Germany they refused to host them and they ended up at Mildenhall. Germany does not like military flying at weekends, bumps and grinds, bombing or supporting bombing abroad. There is a strong green and pacifist lobby and Merkel is seeking re-election. The Americans who dreamed up the move arrogantly assumed that host nations would fall in line. There is also a lack of common sense in moving support assets too far forward and away from the North Sea and Atlantic customer areas. As the whole exercise was about justifying the shutting of bases in the USA the longer the delay the less reason to shut for that reason.
Filmman

Another thought came to my mind when the French did not allow tankers to over fly their country when heading towards the South to refuel missions, that will mean an even further detour from Germany, plus as Filmman says "Germany does not like military flying at weekends, bumps and grinds, bombing or supporting bombing abroad. "
It all remains to be seen what happens, thats my two pennyworth.

Dave

[bentwaters81tfw]

Closure postponed until 2024.

http://www.forces.net/news/raf-mildenha ... until-2024

[Pune]

Closure postponed until 2024.

http://www.forces.net/news/raf-mildenha ... until-2024

Marvellous news, I have a chum working there who will no doubt be very chuffed..

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The rumour is the that the KC-135s will be the last aircraft operating from Mildenhall which will be an almost empty base apart from some TDY scale staff supporting them.