Upcoming Deployment/Exercise May-June

[stealth1234]

Should be a Deployment/Exercise taking place at RAF Fairford this May until the end of June. Rumoured aircraft taking part are x4 B-52's and x2 B-2 Stealth Bombers.

Information is very sparse at the moment hopefully some offical word these coming weeks.

Regards

Mark

[Spitfire88]

I have heard this to, lets hope its true.

[Pune]

Sounds exciting, is this a definite do we know?

[stealth1234]

Sounds exciting, is this a definite do we know?

Definite yes. Just not definite on aircraft types though i would not mind seeing some Bones

[Pune]

It would be great I agree, and hopefully before we gone on hol's, missed out last year as we were on Outer Hebrides when the Buff's deployed, although amazingly we saw the B52's overhead from a beach on North Uist as they arrived in UK.

[Pune]

This from The Mail online dated today 2nd May 2015...
It's a reprint of an old article I believe, unless of course our members have failed to notice the Buffs arriving, and I cannot believe that??

US bombers touch down at RAF base
The first of a number of expected US B52 bombers has touched down at an RAF base in Gloucestershire.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z3Yylubuyg

[POL]

There's no date on that article.

However, as it's article number 170187 and Kate having a baby is article 3044227, something tells me it's not a new article.

[100arw]

2 B-52 are scheduled for Baltops 15/Saber strike 5-20 June.

[StormsInAfrica]

Can I ask what we are basing 5-20th June on? No news on B2's?

[Pune]

I think there were 3 B52's last year and two B2's?

[100arw]

<Can I ask what we are basing 5-20th June on? No news on B2's?>

An exercise briefing for this year, which is why Sylar it is named Baltops 15.

Sorry, no info on B2s. But, no info was released in advance either last year, so with luck......

[100arw]

I should add the briefing was on BaltOps 15/Saber Strike, not on Fairford.

[apgphoto]

Wonder if this has anything to do with Eager Lion? People that I spoke to last week said that B52 and B2 were taking part, although the B2 were flying direct from the USA. Although Eager Lion runs May 5-19.

[100arw]

BaltOps still has F-16s, P-8 and B-52s tasked. Spang?

[100arw]

F-16s will be Warhawk & Weasel and B-52 Icer.

[paulk]

ICER is a 5 BW callsign from Minot AFB.

[Pune]

So folks, where have we got to on this subject, any definite news, confirmation or the like, dates etc..all sounds great if it's going to happen.
Cheers
Pune

[stealth1234]

Expect arrivals end of this Month. Exercise will begin June 5th until 20th.

Edit* B-52's should arrive end of next week..

[StormsInAfrica]

So in summary; the facts:

We have a hire request for a serious amount of vehicles (dates not specified) although OP assures that this is for end of May / beginning of June.

A guy in the know has been briefed that an ex involving 2x B-52's will take place 5th - 20th June. The briefing did not mention Fairford by name.

When BALTOPS/SABER STRIKE 14 was briefed last year, no mention of B-2 involvement. The story "broke" with equipment coming in from WM and tracked on PlanePlotter.

The rumours;

Multi A/C exercise involving B1's, B2's and B52's.

B52's will arrive at the end of next week (22nd onwards).

[Pune]

Thanks for the update, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what/if anything arrives...