Operation Iraqi Freedom - March 2003

[bigcrow]

More from my archives.

Back in March 2003 RAF Fairford hosted fourteen yes fourteen B-52H Bombers in support of the impending War in Iraq.

These images were taken on a couple of visits. The take-off's showing an impressive load of 2,000lb JDAM's under the wings.

#1

60-0005 B-52H 5th BW, Minot AFB, RAF Fairford 26-3-2003 by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#2

61-0007 B-52H 5th BW, Minot AFB, RAF Fairford 26-3-2003 by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#3

60-0034 B-52H 5th BW, Minot AFB, RAF Fairford 26-3-2003 by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#4

60-0033 B-52H 5th BW, Minot AFB, RAF Fairford 23-3-2003 by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#5

JDAM, RAF Fairford 26-3-2003 by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#6

61-0007 B-52H 5th BW, Minot AFB, RAF Fairford 23-3-2003 by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#7

60-0015 B-52H 5th BW, Minot AFB, RAF Fairford 23-3-2003 by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#8

61-0007 B-52H 5th BW, Minot AFB, RAF Fairford 23-3-2003 by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

#9

60-0015 B-52H 5th BW, Minot AFB, RAF Fairford 23-3-2003 by Stuart Freer - Touchdown Aviation, on Flickr

[Supra]

Another superb picture-board telling its own story. Great images, interesting times!
Thanks for the memories.

[Mustang531]

Great shots, thanks for sharing these with us. One thing I remember was visiting and the large number of spotters in attendance.

[H.A.Bucken]

I remember tracking one of these in the Lake District; it had a problem and ATC were asking to the effect did it want to burn off fuel on a couple of laps of the U.K. And, a 'delta' area off Lundy was available to jettison its cargo.
I never disclose (outside our Forum) what I hear on the air-bands but someone did- to the Guardian for heaven's sake; what a plonker. If I remember right questions were asked in Parliament after this event.
Roger

[DanBeeden]

Great shots - love the close-up of the Ghost Rider artwork on '1007. Was the deployment exclusively Minot jets?

[Knife 04]

Brilliant thread Stuart - love the ground shots with the marked up bombs

Was also there on the 23rd March 2003 and got 0007 and 0015 going out and another coming back with a hung up bomb. As Mustang531 said there were a lot of people there that day and can remember it being almost like a family day out - there were families there with picnic blankets and tables with a sizeable spread for lunch!

Nice final shot with the HH-60 from the 56th ERQS which were deployed from Keflavik to patrol the perimeter of the airfield

Thanks for sharing

[MR TERRY GREEN]

Great pictures.

[SW Sky Blue]

Good stuff Stu..

Kev

[paddyboy]

Awesome set of shots, Stuart

Thanks so much for posting

Paddyboy

[sjoerd]

Oh my....great shots there and thanks for sharing these memories.

[adderman]

Great shots - love the close-up of the Ghost Rider artwork on '1007. Was the deployment exclusively Minot jets?

No. Both BD and MT sqns were there.
60-0004 5 15 34 44
61-0007 8 21 27 40 were 10 that my colleague made but he didn't make a note of the codes.

60-0033 appears in the photos so that leaves 3.
Sure someone will know the others.

Also, out of interest how often, if at all do the B52's swap between units?

[toom317]

Are those 6 white rectangles on the starboard tailplane chaff and flare dispensers ?

[bigcrow]

Great shots - love the close-up of the Ghost Rider artwork on '1007. Was the deployment exclusively Minot jets?

No. Both BD and MT sqns were there.
60-0004 5 15 34 44
61-0007 8 21 27 40 were 10 that my colleague made but he didn't make a note of the codes.

60-0033 appears in the photos so that leaves 3.
Sure someone will know the others.

Also, out of interest how often, if at all do the B52's swap between units?

Here’s info regarding which 52’s were deployed.

Arrivals being 3rd March, 5 BW 23 BS B-52Hs “MT” 61-0027 60-0033 60-0044 60-0060 60-0047 60-0051 60-0004 61-0007 arrived in order as “Rippr 11-18” all carried red/yellow fin marks and “MT” code except 61-0027 which was unmarked

4th March, 60-0023 61-0040 60-0015 60-0026 60-0056 60-0034 arrived in order as “Rippr 21-26” all wore the red/yellow fin markings and “MT” code of the 23 BS, 60-0023 was marked up as the 23 BS CO’s aircraft.

There were aircraft changes during April –

02.4 60-0005/MT B-52H 5 BW CO arrived as “Rippr11”
04.4 60-0047/MT B-52H 5 BW returned to the USA as “Rippr11”
61-0021/BD & 61-0008/BD B-52H 93 BS arrived as “Scalp 93/94”
09.04 60-0051/MT B-52H 5 BW departed as “Edge 69”
10.04 60-0026/MT B-52H 5 BW departed as “Chill 69

With thanks to www.raf-fairford.co.uk for this info.