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

[sschofield]

They spelt it right on the header for the picture and then spelt it wrong twice in the article! Lazy local rag journalism...

[XWP29]

Latest https://www.facebook.com/notes/raf-lake ... 378662448/
Not too exciting. It refers to demolition, the 56th Area?

[TankBuster]

I think the 56th are moving to Aviano to make way for the F35s. I assume the area that will be redeveloped is the North side of the base which was once occupied by the F-111s of the 495th TFS?

TankBuster

[Phil]

https://ui.ppjol.com/mobile_welcome/1/s ... PUZpst4WhA

[reaperops]

https://www.stripes.com/news/europe/euc ... PT5nlLMw1-

[Snoop 95]

Perhaps a bit too early to say Yippee yet, but Yippee!

[Unknown74]

Would love to see Mildenhall kept open. Mildenhall, Lakenheath and maybe Fairford are all the Americans need in the U.K.

[page_verify]

Mildenhall, Lakenheath and maybe Fairford are all the Americans need in the U.K.

No Croughton, Welford, Molesworth or MWH as well?

The "review" news is no great surprise if there's any truth in the recent rumours on the street.

[TankBuster]

We all said it was a stupid idea to close Mildenhall in the first place. When they started to look at re-locating assets it created more problems than it did solutions & no doubt would have incurred unnecessary costs along the way too!

TankBuster.

[paddyboy]

Well said, TB

Oh, can I say a YIPPEE too (even if it is a tad premature)

Paddyboy

[grumpy616]

Keep those fingers crossed guys...

Pete

[Thunder]

With the increase in transiting CONUS based units either from/to the Gulf or Eastern Europe over the last 3 years, do you think that someone high up the ladder within the USAF is trying his/her darnedest to prove the value of Mildenhall or just a coincidence?

[Lossie]

Related to the above point does anyone know why (for all I know the above could be the reason) some CONUS-based units are now using Lakenheath going to or from the Gulf? Is great but just curious as for about 10 years it was always Moron, Lajes, Rota etc on the southerly route.

[Keflavik69]

It MIGHT have to do with the reduction of US presence at Lajes, which was forreseen in the same BRAC package as the intended closure of Mildenhall.
When that is the case the planned changes have a silver lining for you guys in the UK.

Arnold

[Snoop 95]

Oh dear. Looks like the initial euphoria was without foundation if this article from the EADT is correct: http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/shutting-raf ... -1-4979025
Snoop, down in the dumps again.

[Supra]

There's nothing in that parochial page-filler article that's really news per se. Close as I can see they have recycled old information interspersed with personal/local views to form an article (like most media outlets).
They have chosen to rely on the following extract..."In response to the report by Stars and Stripes, Lieutenant Colonel David Faggard, EUCOM spokesman, said: “EUCOM has not initiated any official request to review any of the sites planned for closure under EIC."
Doesn't mean to say that nobody back home in the US hasn't suggested 'initiating a review'. The best part of the article & sound advice too, plan for the drawdown schedule as published & any variation will be a bonus?

[page_verify]

I bet a beancounter somewhere hates the RC-135s right now........

[Spitfire88]

Iv just been speaking to a nameless RAF source, who has said that the RC135s will be moving to Fairford in two years time, he said " it's defiantly happening, i was in the meeting"

[TankBuster]

That could be an interesting move, I wonder if that will have any affect on future RIAT shows?
Didn't they scrub the Waddo shows because they no longer wanted the public wandering around on an installation that deals with intelligence gathering etc?

Still seems daft to move it all out of Mildenhall when the base is already up and running for such operations.

TankBuster

[MRTT]

Interesting, to say the least.

Can't see it having an effect on RIAT, they managed to hold the show with '135s based there.