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

[Spitfire88]

2 squadrons moving to fairford as requested by the USAF last week are the 95th and the 488th just waiting for official approval by HM government. Fairford upgrade obviously very much a go and on track.

USAF also spending another 100 million on fairford installing a DABS warehouse and new bomb dumps on base.

[tm74sqn]

DABS ? Dynamic AirBlast Simulator ??

[G4UMW]

Deployable AirBase System

[NAW]

Today's news is that the Trump Administration is doing a study to reduce or even withdraw the US military presence in Germany and instead building up more military presence in Poland. The subject will be on the agenda of the forthcoming NATO summit. Perhaps another chance to keep Mildenhall in the active US-inventory...

[Redflag17]

if and I hope its an if it does close would Marshalls move from Cambridge to Mildenhall and sell Cambridge airport for housing - must be worth zillions???

[filmman]

Well the Ghost Elephant in the Room has finally gone public. Trump might pull US Forces out of Europe if the rest of NATO does not spend more on defending themselves. Why should the USA pay to defend Europe, ongoing trade war does not help. Nothing is for ever and the USA did pull out in 1945, apart from the German occupation, to only come back with NATO formation. Even if no pull out infrastructure spend for rebasing might go on hold or there could be a selective pull out from underspending countries. For instance US could move from Germany to Poland.

[Dan423]

The US forces aren't in Europe to defend Europe though, they're there to defend the interests and the people of the USA.

[baz1]

well we could kick them out of fairford then they would have no forward operating base for bombers if things broke out in countrys as have done in the past.

[MRTT]

I'd say that's very unlikely...

[baz1]

was just a thought

[graham luxton]

well we could kick them out of fairford then they would have no forward operating base for bombers if things broke out in countrys as have done in the past.

AFGSC's other forward bomber base in Europe is Moron - thats why B-52's deployed at Fairford sometimes visit and why other Buff deployments in recent years have gone to Spain. As for kicking them out of Fairford - possible, if the Tories lose the next election!

[Snoop 95]

The US forces aren't in Europe to defend Europe though, they're there to defend the interests and the people of the USA.

Not strictly true. They are in Europe as a member of NATO and their Forces could respond to any calls from NATO for action, which could be to assist any other member of the Organisation to counter invasion or, more likely, to participate in any NATO-led Force elsewhere (eg Kosovo). True, they will also seek to launch actions of their own, but will need the permission of the host country and any other over whose territory they might need to fly. The Libyan bombing was an example of that, where Maggie gave permission to launch from UK bases, but the French Government refused overflight permission, which is why the F111's had to go West and then down over international waters in the Atlantic and then Med to reach Libya.

[SpilsbyPete]

by Redflag17 » Tue Jul 03, 2018 8:28 am

if and I hope its an if it does close would Marshalls move from Cambridge to Mildenhall and sell Cambridge airport for housing - must be worth zillions???

This will never happen.
Mildenhall runs on 115v and it would cost a million or two to convert to 240v.
Think of all the cables,plugs,power supplies etc etc

Pete

[Nighthawke]

I'm sure that would be built in to any terms and conditions. A few million on a budget line isn't really that much for such a large project. Whoever takes over the site whether single or multiple bodies will have to convert to UK standards.

So never say never...

[Spitfire88]

the government stated mildenhall was to be sold for housing.

[wezgulf3]

the government stated mildenhall was to be sold for housing.

That’s handy, move thousands of people into a new town so they can complain about the F15’s & F35’s at nearby Lakenheath.

Wes...

[Snoop 95]

the government stated mildenhall was to be sold for housing.

That’s handy, move thousands of people into a new town so they can complain about the F15’s & F35’s at nearby Lakenheath.

Wes...

The base is remote and lacks good surface communication. Yes its would be a 'brown field site' but it will require a huge amount spent on it to render it suitable for housing and who would want to live there? Very little employment anywhere near and lots of aircraft noise. Not many former airfields have been successfully turned into housing in East Anglia. Waterbeach...... can't think of any others.

[wezgulf3]

Totally agree snoop, the area doesn’t have the pull to fill a housing estate that size, unless it has its on direct train line to London.

What It needs, is someone with deep pockets to take it over as a hub, someone like AmazonPrime comes to mind.

Wes...

[skidrow]

by Redflag17 » Tue Jul 03, 2018 8:28 am

if and I hope its an if it does close would Marshalls move from Cambridge to Mildenhall and sell Cambridge airport for housing - must be worth zillions???

This will never happen.
Mildenhall runs on 115v and it would cost a million or two to convert to 240v.
Think of all the cables,plugs,power supplies etc etc

Pete

Not true most of RAF Mildenhall is 240v already, not 115v. 115v only used when specific equipment requires it. Also, Marshalls has already viewed Mildenhall as a possible site when they thought of moving before so they know what they need to relocate.

[SpilsbyPete]

Well.
I stand corrected.
Just proves you can't believe everything you are told.