FighterControl

Read this in the April 2022 copy of Air Forces Monthly:

Reports suggest the base [RAF Mildenhall] has commenced plans to expand, with the possibility of the 100th ARW forming a second squadron with an increased number of KC-135s.

Is anyone aware of said reports?

I have heard chat about this - wondered if that's from where Lager / Quid are based on?

Shouldn't they start upgrading to the KC-46?

Not an upgrade, by all accounts....

Thunderbolt II wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 31, 2022 6:23 pm

Not an upgrade, by all accounts....

I was being polite to the old gal

Does AFM = April Fools Month?

If you assume this plan is due to the current Ukraine situation would a rolling TDY of ANG tankers not suffice ?

Doughnut wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 01, 2022 8:26 am

If you assume this plan is due to the current Ukraine situation would a rolling TDY of ANG tankers not suffice ?

Maybe it acknowledges the fact that, even when the fighting stops, the tension will continue for years, perhaps decades to come...?

Seen a patch with 341ARS "CRY HAVOC" knocking about .

I did hear of this last year but as nothing further was heard i thought it had been cancelled so pehaps not.

I was wondering just recently if this would happen, though hadn't seen anything online about it, as it occurred to me that the 100th could not maintain this kind of sortie tempo indefinitely. Perhaps there isn't the capacity in ANG units to support a continual detachment at the Hall (though seeing Ohio and Michigan KC-135s lined up opposite Folly Road would be pretty neat!)?

ARS or EARS? Big difference.

BOLLO wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 01, 2022 11:43 am

Seen a patch with 341ARS "CRY HAVOC" knocking about .

Was it this one? https://www.ramaworld.com/air-force-raf ... 0&limit=15

F4JPhantomII wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 01, 2022 4:44 pm

BOLLO wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 01, 2022 11:43 am

Seen a patch with 341ARS "CRY HAVOC" knocking about .

Was it this one? https://www.ramaworld.com/air-force-raf ... 0&limit=15

Looks pretty conclusive.

In addition to the current situation regarding the Ukraine it seems that there will be a significant increase in demand for boom IFR as many of the US made aircraft on order or in service with European NATO allies are only refuellable by this method. E.g. P8, F35A and RC135. I was interested to see that Boeing have been trialling an IFR drone and refuelling an F35C : https://www.aero-mag.com/mq-25-refuelling-f-35-14092021
A sign of the future for IFR I suppose.

F4JPhantomII wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 01, 2022 4:44 pm

BOLLO wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 01, 2022 11:43 am

Seen a patch with 341ARS "CRY HAVOC" knocking about .

Was it this one? https://www.ramaworld.com/air-force-raf ... 0&limit=15

Thats the one fella

I’d read about the 349th being a potential candidate, coincidentally also once part of the 100th bomber group but nothing confirmed.

Finty wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 02, 2022 10:25 pm

I’d read about the 349th being a potential candidate, coincidentally also once part of the 100th bomber group but nothing confirmed.

In the new AF standards they go by the unit who has the most history and combat actions. But one would think that any unit in the 100th would fit this criteria. As for RAMA world they have been know to make remakes repros but don't acknowledge that. Hence there making the RAFL crown patches for the top 3 to make some cash. Nor are those patches that there selling worn by the squadrons that they are making. The real crown patches are made somewhere else.

As Rama don't sell less than 25 patches per order I'm leaning towards thinking they often make their own versions of existing official patches because the primary supplier is out of materials or time, they've put their prices up, or someone's just joined the squadron who know can get a better deal. Some of those four reasons have happened in the last year for the 99th ERS which is why there's several versions of their crest. Nonetheless, I struggle to believe that Rama would randomly have a 341st design and randomly start offering it for sale.

Does anyone have any thoughts about where the 100th's second ARS might be based? My thinking is Germany.

If this is to happen - which I think is a distinct possibility then as a guess I’d say the main operating base will be Mildenhall but w/ aircraft forward deployed as they are at the current time to where ever needs them. Eg. Ramstein, Moron etc. I believe MH is able to deliver the maintenance etc. (to what depth I don’t know) for -135 aircraft so I don’t see there being a permanent base as such away from MH but maybe a detachment or 2 somewhere 100ARW det.1 etc.