All US bombers deployed to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire have returned to their home stations in the United States, ending the latest sustained deployment of American heavy bombers at the British airbase, according to US European Command.
European Command confirmed on 4 October that the aircraft “are redeploying to their home stations”, while a US Department of Defense official separately confirmed that every American bomber deployed to Fairford had now left the base.
“While operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real-time, we can acknowledge now that all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to their home stations in the United States,” a US Air Force statement said.
The aircraft remaining at Fairford before the departure were B-1B Lancer bombers. The New York Times, citing two US officials, reported that 12 B-1s were involved in the redeployment and that at least three had reached South Dakota by Sunday. No reason for the withdrawal has been given publicly by the Pentagon or US European Command.
European Command said American bombers routinely deploy internationally as part of global readiness and operational requirements, without providing further detail on the decision to bring the Fairford aircraft home. “US Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world to support global force readiness and operational requirements,” the US statement said.
The service added that its bomber force remained capable of carrying out long-range operations directly from the continental United States. “The Airmen that operate America’s bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s, remain ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities – including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States – anywhere, anytime.”
RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station used extensively by the United States Air Force and serves as a forward operating location for US strategic bomber deployments to Europe. Its long runway and supporting infrastructure allow aircraft including the B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit and B-52 Stratofortress to operate from the Gloucestershire base.
The airfield has hosted a substantial US bomber presence during 2026. B-1 and B-52 aircraft operated from Fairford during American military operations connected with the war with Iran, making the base one of the principal European locations supporting the deployment of US long-range strike aircraft.
Six B-52 Stratofortress bombers had already departed Fairford earlier in the year, leaving B-1 Lancers as the remaining deployed bomber force at the base by the beginning of October.
The B-1B is a supersonic long-range conventional bomber operated by the US Air Force. Although originally developed during the Cold War with a nuclear role, the aircraft was subsequently converted to a conventional-only mission and has been used extensively for long-range strike operations.
So UK cannot defend British bombers in own airbases.
I mean US bombers.
Which ones were damaged?
No Alex, the UK doesn’t want your bombers anymore to prosecute your insane leaders desire to do whatever Israel wants him to do, suggest you follow your bombers lead and fuck off back to America,
Dumb fuck
Jim you’ve gone a bit over the top in your post there, do remain calm and no need for abuse.
Jim read my reply to Pkcas, apologies I did not heed my own advice lol
Hi Airborne, normally I would agree but this guy is a total tool, another fake American just like PK 🙂
I believe Alex may be Portugese?
Yes.
Speak for yourself.
For Jim it is smart to allow Ayatollahs develop ICBM’s and nuclear weapons.
The only Ayatollah with nuclear weapons I’m particularly worried about is the one on Pennsylvania avenue. MAGA is as big a cult as the Iranian revolution and I suspect your balls deep in it despite your claim of being Portuguese.
It’s funny how some people are so anti Trump yet, in their yelling and insults, are really cut from the same classless material.
Alex,
Only cheap low-quality tabloids are saying that the US bombers left because of the recent security incident….during which no unauthorised person entered the base or attacked personnel or aircraft, and the three vans were seized and the miscreants were arrested and charged. So a successful ‘counter-terrorist’ operation was conducted. I would say that the UK succeeded in defending American bombers in our own airbase.
Both the US European Commmand and the US DoD says that deployment to Fairford and recovery to the US were entirely normal and routine.
Most likely there was a detachment of USAF security forces along to protect the bombers. Imagine the political fallout had USAF or RAF security forces killing a British citizen attempting to damage or destroy an American bomber?
Better they leave and not present such a tempting target.
It might help if we actually knew precisely why this action was taken before speculating as to reasons. One thing that the British legacy media is not reporting and which may be the determining factor in the B-1s withdrawal is not that there was an alleged terrorist incident but that the individuals arrested were released on bail and would be “closely monitored” by British police who are currently seen as totally corrupted by woke ideology by Americans and ineffective.
We have a role of law in this country which is being followed , it’s very sad that many people would like this rule of law to be discarded, almost like we are some sort of authorive state
You may be correct, many think the same but you are still an absolute throbber with a chip on that weak shoulder.
I agree Airborne, hear hear 🙂
Wall Street Journal is not considered a cheap tabloid.
It’s is owned by Rupert Murdoch so ……
Thought you’d be along with something like this.
For the last five years, the periods of bomber deployment have only constituted some 30% or so of the total.
No bombers we’re harmed and no attack was made on the base..
In the end a UK base is always going to be more exposed than a US base as US bases have massive space.. where as by the nature of the Uk its very busy..
But let’s be honest the US has never been better then the UK in managing Islamic terror attacks.. UK attacks are almost always small or lone wolf knife attacks..the US has had some massive attacks slip through the net.
No disrespect to UKDJ. But this is nothing. Same as when Lakenheath F15s go back to SJ.
Robin the brave…
One of them went over my house yesterday morning. They’re not exactly ‘acoustically stealthy’.
The risk is obvious. “Uk citizen” is a document handed out to any Tom, Dick and Abdul.
Hundreds of men swarm across the channel with no vetting, or seemingly no concern who they might be and no restrictions placed on them
We allow foreign workers ( including NHS staff) to cosplay Yasser Arafat on our streets , and have seen the upper/middle class pro pal, anti oil eco nut target RAF Voyagers and enter arms factories
Ukraine showed what could be achieved with a few drones launched nearby and airfield.
The UK govt Foreign secretary shakes hands with the Iranian counterpart , and announces a policy that sides against Israel
No shock the US will send a message is it?
Americans just panicking or is the government hiding something from us?
One would assume if the US needed/wanted them forward deployed in Europe another suitable base could have been found. They’ve deployed to Norway, Sweden and Spain fairly recently. Granted they don’t have the same infrastructure, but when needs must.
So I don’t completely buy the angle they were withdrew back to the US purely because of security threats.
I suspect their mission is just done. Bombing Iran to the stone age didn’t do the job and so return to base until the next trump prize project happens. Rumour has it, that it will be Cuba, but I suspect that is just idle rumours. Don’t really see what is in it for the US for taking Cuba, as it’s lacking in natural resources that they normally go after.
According to the media, other European countries would not have entertained them, if they are still bombing Iran. Various American media outlets report them as ‘scrambling’, their words not mine to leave because of an unspecified threat. Whether you believe any of it….
More likely a pre planned move, which coincided with this so called terrorist threat! The optics don’t look good for the UK HMG regarding protection of the base (but US forces are actually responsible for internal security) etc and not for the US as it does seem they are “running scared” but if they were still needed surely they would re-deployed to Europe, and therefore it may come that they are actually no longer needed for the Iran debacle?
Why not use Diego Garcia?
Too far away from US to sustain bombers long term and too vulnerable to Iranian ballistic missiles.
to reach the UK any Iranian missile would have to cross NATO BMD defenses based on SM3 as well as German Arrow 3 system.
They did use it for a short period.
I don’t understand the fuss, which may show a lack of knowledge as well as the usual agendas.
RAF Fairford does not have assets permanently deployed, it is a FOB when the US sees the need to forward deploy assets from the continental US.
The Bombers leaving? They were never based there to start with.
There was infrastructure built there years back including hangers to house the B2, the B2 isn’t based there either.
RAF Lakenheath on the other hand, the 48th pulling out from there would be significant, that is their designated base.
Hi agree, its juts click bate media to feed the Trolls.
it’s just unfortunate that the Whitehouse is now the biggest Troll out there. They are using the not a terrorist incident (five guys in a van with no bombs) to justify what is in reality a US withdrawal from operations that they can no longer sustain and have little hope of achieving a desired effect.
Ahh, the voice of knowledgeable calm consideration, mate.
All the fuss I think is overblown. I noted that Trump hasn’t said anything more since his initial statement in the Oval Office. If he was really peed off with the Brits he would be upping the pressure to say the least. I also think that Rubio’s low key comment at the time of the bail decision was indicative of US mild irritation or surprise based on a lack of understanding of the finer workings of the UK legal system rather an US ire.
All of which suggests that the US are pleased with the level of UK input into what was obviously a joint operation, they said as much for goodness sake. The operation did provide some fore warning as there have been plenty of reports that security was stepped up in and around the base prior to the arrests. Having said that and given that the police apparently responded to a couple of 999 calls with overwhelming numbers suggests to me that the intelligence was good but perhaps incomplete i.e. assets in close proximity beforehand but triggered by 999 calls.
So all in all it seems some parts of the press are trying to keep a non-story going as the US and UK have both clammed up. Me thinks there is a lot of stuff ongoing that both countries want to keep out the public eye and that will be very frustrating to the press 🙂 It will be interesting to see how the Met’s investigation moves forward.
Cheers CR
Without the recent security incident I would agree but I think it too coincidental that this move has come now.
If you were the USAF and you had options as to where these bombers were currently stationed, and you thought there could be an Iranian spiderweb style attack on the way what would you do?
Even if the chances were low I’d move them, and probably beef up security at bases where bombers were still stationed.
My thinking could be flawed but sometimes the desire to protect backsides and assets results in decisive action.
I don’t think currently that any country has a trustworthy defence against internal drone threats. However here in the UK don’t have vast open spaces to give decent reaction times against these kind of threats. I would choose bases with perimeter fences a long distance away or ones with hardened shelters.
Will we ever find out the real reason? Probably not.
K.
I’d tend to agree with that analysis.
Yet another event that Iran’s propaganda machine will use to say they have the US forces on the run.
Last week US withdrew from Iraq.
The US Navy has repostioned it feet an extra 500 miles away from the Persian Gulf
**fleet**
yes, but it’s the US giving them these propaganda wins and there is a fair bit of truth in it. the US will never again have access to so many bases in the middle east. Ballistic missiles are juts to effective now and if you are relying on Raytheon and LM to counter them its always going to be too expensive.
US forward bases are going to have to move underground just like Iranian ones and that is expensive and very limited.
the US military got too cocky for too long.
This time, the US has faced a foe that is:
Well equipped, well prepared, heavily industriaised and heavily fortified.
Also, one that can mobilise, recover, regenerate new forces, and repair quickly.
The Chinese generals must be watching and laughing their heads off.
You are the product of todays journalism, a profession taken by activists.
If Iran did the same to UK as US did to them you will be calling for surrender.
If the US did the same to UK that it did to Iran you will be calling for resistance.
Same result completely different behavior, now ask, why your brain is formatted that way?
There is nothing I would like to see more than the defeat and demise of the evil regime in Tehran.
But we have to acknowledge that everyone has underestimated the resilience of the regime and the IRGC
We also have to acknowledge that Iran has an effective defence strategy, which has withstood the best of US and Israel’s efforts.
While Iran has suffered some degradation in its military and industrial base, the job is far from finished.
The tactical wins by the US/Israel were thrown away, because the attacks were paused, giving Iran time to recover.
So what is the solution now ?
Another all out bombing campaign?
Wait passively, hoping that the sanctions will work?
Well i did not. I was not expecting to fold because against the West you only need to hold usually until halfway to the next election. Trump surprised me to have more backbone.
(Instead i was expecting that Ukraine would fold. A leader like Zelensky was someone i was not expecting.)
The solution is what is being done, Iran is now under high level surveillance and control, they are loosing essential resources to build in quantity. They have spent thousands of missiles and drones without much to show for it.
Everyone is now working to discount their oil, energy technology outside oil industry keep improving, the world will adapt. Resilience is being build in an energy system that lacked it, this without too much losses.
They are effectively inserting high level of uncertainty in their major source of income.
At the same time the West in a war that until now cost very small number of losses is getting realistic training and changing its military culture. Usually changing a military culture implies millions of deaths.
One of strangest aspects of our western culture is to generally have high praise for the supposed long term vision of others cultures, but within us every problem needs to be fixed very fast. Chinese culture is a typical example presented despite the fact they followed blindly an European political cult that murdered millions of them.
IF any country, USA under this nazi Trump, attacked the UK we’d all be calling for resistance.
On the thought of Chinese generals laughing their heads it is like SPECTRE raising it’s head with Russian generals being offed, Trump sacking 20% of his generals and the Chinese taking a similar approach – a James Bond script couldn’t this up!
British Braid are so cr&p no one bothers but then again, look at the state of our armed forces and you really must wonder who they work for; ”Good evening, Mr Bond.”
To me this sounds like an excellent opportunity to stop the USAF waging Trump’s vanity wars from UK soil.
I’d like to see refuelling and other permissions removed, with a hint that they MAY be reconsidered once Trump is in a strait jacket in a secure mental health facility, where he belongs.
Quite so. The USA is being taken over by a lawless, anti-constitutional, corrupt cult backed by lunatic billionaires. The mid-terms could result in a declaration of martial law, refusal to allow Democrat electees from entering congress & vote rigging/intimidation plans by MAGA are well known & advanced.
Story has become a bit murky – New York Times copyright:
”The withdrawal was highly unusual: Such moves are rarely made so quickly from an allied air base in a peacetime country thousands of miles from a combat zone.
The need to move the bombers out of the base, R.A.F. Fairford, was deemed so urgent that some of the planes and their flight crews left while aerial refueling aircraft were still being scrambled to support their flights to the United States. At least three of the planes had landed at their home base in South Dakota by Sunday, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters.”
I take the point that the US routinely transits platforms in and out of the UK, however, the point about the aerial tankers being scrambled shows that they may have left in haste.
We should acknowledge that no airbase is safe given what the Ukrainians did to the Russians with their HGV drone throwers, and given the large Iranian community in the UK, it is perhaps fair to speculate that this was related to a loss of faith in base and outer security by the US. B1 are not exactly numerous.
It is useless, you saw the reactions above.
Of all media comments that i follow in major European countries the British ones are the more one sided and with head fully in sand.
Spanish have a very stark split. French instead are very afraid of their country but don’t know what to do, total paralysis.
Alex, did you intend your initial comment to be constructive or antagonistic?
If your comment was intended to annoy a bunch of patriotic British citizens – job well done.
However if you wanted to highlight the lack of base defences in Britain and the need for investment I would have taken a different tack.
Personally I think this is a good news story. We live in a world of cost justification and politicians that chase votes. If the general public becomes more aware of the threats the UK faces perhaps we will see more investment.
K.
The perils of open borders and letting people I who hate you and your allies
Airbases not safe due to drones. The more we insist it’s safe the less assured we feel.This looks like a rapid pullout.
Good riddance. The less we have to do with Trumps insane war of distraction war crimes against Iran the better. I’ve no love for Iran’s regime but we’re watching the rise of neo-nazi’s in the USA & need to stay well clear & avoid it happening here too.
You mean like Polanski’s Green Party I assume?
Not surprising as the USAF probably has little confidence in the UKs GBAD , none. The risk of a drone hit on the strategic bomber force is too high.
We as a country really need to get a few dozen radar guided bofors guns with coaxial mounted 12.75 HMGs.
We dont need massively expensive lasers, just a wall of fast moving steel to try to fly a drone through.
Planes are tired after a long war – home for some R&R and deep maintenance
What bugs me is the US causes this mess and did so without building a consensus with allies or even consulting them. Now the UK has a risk civilian and military personnel have a risk of being hit in the collateral whilst the US pulls out it’s assets.
sadly its come to the point where UK should exercise a veto on certain american missions from UK airbases.
We have a veto. Just don’t use it very often.
would it be difficult to protect fairford from drones given its in somewhat populated cotswolds.
That’s great news! Now for you chill time!7
Good riddance then. Don’t rush back.