Posted on 01/08/2015 9:14:07 PM PST by tcrlaf
The United States Air Force (USAF) has confirmed it will pull out of three UK airbases.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said the Americans will leave RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth in Cambridgeshire.
The move is part of a programme to save £320m ($500m) a year across Europe. The USAF lease the RAF bases.
Mr Hagel said he understood it would mean job losses and thanked those who had supported the US Air Force. "I know that this will result in a reduction of our local host nations workforces at some locations; I value the tremendous support they provided us for decades."
The USAF KC-135 tanker fleet based at Mildenhall will be moved to Germany. RAF Lakenheath, with two squadrons of new F-35 jets (48 of them) arriving by 2020, will be the aircraft's only European base.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Good memories, a few drunken nights.
RELATED:
Other countries with closing bases include Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugeses Azores, and Italy.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30731926
US military to close 15 bases in Europe
United States Air Force (USAF) has confirmed it will pull out of three UK airbases.
Active Duty ping.
Grrr.....
Title should read:
“USAF to pull out of airbases at Mildenhall, Alconbury and Molesworth”
Please correct mu pathetic mistake! Thanx!
Sad. We spent 8 years at RAF Bentwaters & Woodbridge and 3 at Lakenheath. I managed a Domino’s that used to be right in Beck Row, by The Bird In Hand, Mildenhall. I understand that business is located elsewhere in Mildenhall now, but gosh, the memories.
I don’t think this is a good idea at all. With the European continent in turmoil, especially with the Russian bear raising it’s claws, I hate to see our military bases in Europe being closed. I’m afraid we will come to rue the days we did this.
I agree. But, it’s for the children, don’t you know?
Oldplayer
I always wanted to forget my drunken nights. Well, the days too.
!
My brother was stationed there during WWII. He wasn’t there long before they got shot down on their 17th mission and he spent the rest of the war in Stalag III until the forced march to Stalag XVII...
I’m sure us pulling out of Europe must SCARE THE DAYLIGHTS out of Putin/sarc.
In other words - he hears us tell him how we’re not going to put up with him messing around in his backyard (Ukraine, Baltics, etc.)...just as we’re canceling weapons programs, packing up the troops, and leaving Europe further and further undefended.
What would any reasonable person assume about REAL intentions when they see that?
The US pays the Brits for the privilege of defending Britain.
Ah, the Bird In Hand. I stayed there a couple times in the ‘90’s. Once I had to go to a noisy pub in town....by the river. I rented a house for over a year over in Lakenheath village.
That money is now earmarked for Obama’s promise of free college for two years for illegals.
We were in England from 85-96, with Lakenheath/Mildenhall being 93-96. Good times & so much to do there.
I agree with you. Takes a lot of time to move people/equipment once it’s gone.
“But, it’s for the children, don’t you know?”
Obama’s children, not ours.
We got 48 of these under-acheiving F-35’s on the way, in 5 years or so, all based in one place, to make it an easier target I guess.
Who decides these things?
Ah, those names. The names. I spent a 364 day tour in England in 1975-76, I worked (TDY’d) out of a place called Croughton, did my military business stuff at Upper Heyford and went to several bases: Mildenhall, Lakenheath, and even a little comm site on the east side of the isle called “Cold Blow” - now there’s a name. Stayed TDY there a month working on the channel M/W link to Belgium. Little B&B there that had National Geographics from the 50s in the room, scads of them.
I can’t recall ever seeing a Muslim when I lived there.
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