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

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Scuba 11
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RAF Mildenhall to close. Lakenheath to get F-35 by 2020

Post by Scuba 11 » Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:00 am

From Stripes.com
STUTTGART, Germany — A major U.S. Air Force base in the United Kingdom and 14 other installations scattered across Europe will close as part of sweeping reorganization of forces on the Continent, the Pentagon announced.

Operations at RAF Mildenhall, home to Air Force special operations forces, air refueling tankers and 3,200 military personnel, will end and missions carried out there will be moved to other locations such as Germany. Two other facilities in the U.K. — RAF Alconbury and Molesworth — also will close as part of a consolidation effort. Most of the missions there will be moved to RAF Croughton.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon plans to station two squadrons of F-35s at RAF Lakenheath by 2020, which ensures the continuous presence of U.S. air power in the country.

As a result of the moves, there will be a slight reduction in overall force levels. However, Germany and Italy are expected to gain troops through the Pentagon’s moves.

In all, the Pentagon expects to save about $500 billion annually from the consolidations, which have been under review for more than a year.

Other announced closures and consolidations involve support facilities rather than major bases.

vandiver.john@stripes.com

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by Gary » Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:22 am

That's shocking news :( Reading into it, that probably means 352nd SOG to Poland and tankers to either Ramstein Air Base or a smaller fleet to Lakenheath, replying more heavily on ANG or regular squauadron TDY's, like the USAF have already said they are going to do

Some good news with the F-35s though.
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by Sparts99 » Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:28 am

What will be the impact on the local economy ?
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by POL » Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:37 am

Be interesting to see how they plan on operating high-priority Atlantic refuelling missions from 322 miles further east than they currently do. The rest probably makes more sense, though I'd expect the 67thSOS to relocate to Ramstein to colocate with the 86thAW (C-130J hub) and the 7th SOS to go elsewhere?
Sparts99 wrote:What will be the impact on the local economy ?
There won't be one. A local economy, that is.

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by Stroudy » Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:38 am

Some/all of the Milldenhall tankers to Fairford perhaps?

There has been some talk about Fairford being upgraded recently, but not sure on the full story there etc....

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by Gary » Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:50 am

The full article lays out the plans
United Kingdom
Divest RAF Mildenhall:
• Returns the installation and four supported sites to the United Kingdom.
• DOD intends to relocate the operational units at RAF Mildenhall within Europe — the assigned KC-135s and the 352nd Special Operations Wing to Germany and the assigned RC-135s within the U.K. This paves the way for the stationing of two squadrons of F-35s at RAF Lakenheath, starting in 2020.
• Divest RAF Alconbury/RAF Molesworth — Consolidation of missions allows the permanent return of RAF Alconbury, RAF Molesworth and supporting sites to the United Kingdom. The majority of U.S. personnel, and many of the U.S.-funded host nation positions assigned to these bases will be transferred to RAF Croughton.

Germany
• Close Mainz Kastel Station — fully returns the site to Germany.
• Close Barton Barracks — fully returns the site to Germany and relocates the Department of Defense Dependents Schools district office to Sembach.
• Partially close Pulaski Barracks in the Kaiserslautem area — returns part of the site to Germany.
• Close Weilimdorf warehouse site — returns the site to German control.
• Close two Baumholder waterworks — returns control to Germany.
• Relocate HQs DISA-Europe from Stuttgart to Kaiserslautem.
• Close Amelia Earhart Hotel in Wiesbaden.
• Partially close Artillery Kaserne in Garmisch — returns two-thirds of the site to Germany.
• Restructure the Army Air Force Exchange Services bakery and water distribution operations at Grünstadt.
• Close Husterhöh Kaserne in Pirmasens — returns the site to Germany.
• Relocate mail sorting/distribution from German Aerial Mail Terminal in Frankfurt to Germersheim Army Depot — efficiencies and personnel moves only.
• Create a distribution center of excellence at Germersheim Army Depot.
• Consolidate various communication data centers across EUCOM.
• Close commissaries at Illesheim and Sembach, as well as the four commissaries in Stuttgart at Kelley Barracks, Patch Barracks, Panzer Barracks and Robinson Barracks, once a new replacement store on Panzer is constructed.
• Consolidate Defense Media Activity operations across Europe.
• Consolidate communications, postal services and personnel management that support the U.S. mission to NATO and the U.S. military delegation to the NATO military committee.

Belgium
• Divest leased site in Brussels — Consolidation of U.S. facilities in Brussels to Sterrebeek.

The Netherlands
• Divest Shinnen Emma Mine leased site, Netherlands and consolidate U.S. facilities at Brunssum.

Italy
• Place a portion of the Pisa Ammo Storage Area, near Livorno, into caretaker status.
Partially close Camp Darby near Livorno. Returns about half of the installation to Italy.
Convert the Vicenza Health Center to outpatient and specialty care only.

Portugal
• Streamline operations and property at Lajes Field — Reduces active duty, civilian personnel and contract providers by two-thirds. A number of the buildings at Lajes will also be returned to Portugal.
http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/raf- ... s-1.322825
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by DanBeeden » Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:54 am

Cripes this is not good news :'(

I wonder what the timescales are for all this?

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by Bushpilot » Thu Jan 08, 2015 10:00 am

Well now DC or whoever is PM after May will have to take defence seriously - NO MORE CUTS :grr:
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by michael.p » Thu Jan 08, 2015 10:16 am

Very bad new but does anyone have a time line for these changes. Namely when is Mildenhall to close.
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by BOLLO » Thu Jan 08, 2015 10:22 am

Gutted as many of us are that go down.As they say all good things come to an end. :grr: :grr: :(
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by Windy57 » Thu Jan 08, 2015 10:34 am

I work at Mildenhall - we're getting a briefing this PM, may know more about timescales then.....

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by Gary » Thu Jan 08, 2015 10:36 am

Eastern Daily Press have a news article about it

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/raf_mildenh ... _1_3647270
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by TonyO » Thu Jan 08, 2015 10:42 am

The EDP article is from June last year...
You want the Aladeen news, or the Aladeen news?

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by Gary » Thu Jan 08, 2015 10:46 am

Posh are going to Wembley (albeit for a tin cup)

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by Snoop 95 » Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:08 am

Shocking I must say. After last years recommendations by the US Govt's consultants it seemed that Mildenhall would be OK and that Lakenheath was the one with the uncertain future. Now that is reversed and we have F35's to look forward to.
I am surprised that the USAF are prepared to rebuild all the necessary infrastructure for the tankers elsewhere, but then that just shows that you can never predict what Governments and their departments are going to do.
The RC135's to be (mysteriously) relocated within the UK, perhaps they will go to Waddo to inaugurate some kind of joint unit with the RAF's examples.

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by Davef68 » Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:09 am

and the assigned RC-135s within the U.K
So Waddington when it's runway is upgraded? Or maybe the RAF RC135s take up the taskings?

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by baz1 » Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:39 am

typical now mildenhall as had a lot of upgrading and runway work done!
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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by 09andrew » Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:50 am

RAF Fairford are actively recruiting fuel technicians plus other positions.

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by Contrail1958 » Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:50 am

Will there be any F35's to go to Lakenheath as the costs are going out of control
according to some experts and it's turned into a "Turkey".
Cannot see them closing 2 bases so close to-gether as a goodwill gesture to our
Government. (Like Kinloss/Lossiemouth) So I'd have thought Mildenhall would have
been the better in the long run to keep open.

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Re: RAF Mildenhall to End Missions. Lakenheath to get F35 by

Post by rva65 » Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:52 am

No mention of Fairford can only be good news!

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