BBC Reports US B52s Depart RAF Fairford

BBC Channel 1 | 21 March 2003

[UKCajun]

BBC showing live pictures of US B52s departing RAF Fairford airbase in the UK

[Irishguy]

and the 9th is leaving ....jesus -- if only they knew what is on the way...

[dennisw]

U.S. B-52 bombers arrive at base in Britain
2003-03-03 16:35:39 GMT (Reuters)
By Peter MacDiarmid

FAIRFORD, England, March 3 (Reuters) - A group of U.S. B-52 bombers landed at Britain's Fairford Royal Air Force base on Monday as Washington moved the aircraft that would play an early role in any war on Iraq closer to their targets.

To the fury of peace protesters and the delight of plane spotters, the huge grey jets roared low over the perimeter fence before opening parachutes on the runway -- the longest in Europe -- to help them rumble to a halt.

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told parliament he had agreed to a U.S. request for 14 B-52 bombers to fly to RAF Fairford in the western county of Gloucestershire from the United States, with their extra support personnel.

"The aircraft began to arrive at the base today. This is part of continuing contingency preparations," he said. "No decision to commence military action has been made."

A Reuters correspondent saw eight B-52s land at the base. A Defence Ministry spokeswoman said the full complement would have arrived within 48 hours.

Fairford can also house U.S. "batwing" B-2 stealth bombers, which Washington announced last week it would deploy soon. But the Defence Ministry said Britain had received no request to base the B-2s at Fairford, a sign they would probably go to the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia instead.

Even without the mysterious stealth bombers, the arrival of the B-52s caused a stir. Plane spotters and journalists gathered to watch them landing, joining a small number of protesters who have maintained a "peace camp" nearby.

Amateur pilot Malcolm Faiers said he had always wanted to see a B-52. "It was very good and very interesting. I'm quite impressed by the size of the aircraft," he said. "I'm very pro-getting-on-with-this-war, so that's another reason I came."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH ---->

At the peace camp, protesters were outraged.

"We're devastated that war may now actually start within a few days," protest organiser Dave Cockroft told Reuters. "The fear is that America has lost patience with the whole process of trying to legitimise what they are doing, and are going do it anyway."

Protester Brenda Burrell said: "I'm talking to you, and on my left two enormous dark grey American bombers, in our beautiful Gloucestershire countryside, are being fuelled up -- I'm absolutely outraged that this is happening in the country I was born in.

"This is mass murder we are going to be committing. This is unspeakable," she added.

[prisoner6]

That's what I was trying to figure out. I thought flight time would be longer, especially considering a refuel. How did you calculate it?

prisoner6

[Moose4]

I bet it'll be full dark by the time they run in.

Wonder what they're carrying? Probably more air-launched cruise missiles would be my guess, to supplement the Tomahawks that the RN and US Navy have been firing the past two nights.

}:-)4

[dennisw]

Plus are some nations denying flyover rights? That would add to flight time.

[prisoner6]

That's right. I think the frogs are letting us flyover, but from there we'd have to come in from the west over Jordan. If they do arrive between 10-noon eastern time, it >would< be dark in Iraq when they arrive.

Instead of going home from work and going to bed, guess I'll stay up, pop some popcorn and wait to see what happens.

prisoner6

[shezza]

Flying times estimated during the first night of the war UK to Baghdad was said to be 6-7 hours. I'd expect to see live coverage of explosions beginning 11-ish EST.

Then again, with the imploding of Iraq at the moment, "shock & awe" may not even be needed.

1 Marine officer KIA, 4 U.S. Marines and 8 Brits killed in helicopter crash. God bless our troops.

[Bad~Rodeo]

oops, sorry. Oh just from previous reports of flight times.

[FreedomPoster]

LOL! Now, now, you're being ugly. ;-)

[Robert_Paulson2]

likely the last thing they will see... and forever for them, will be rather short...

[spectr17]

Get in the hole Machmood!!! Get in the hole now!!!

[glock rocks]

I believe the B52s were placed RAF Fairford for the psychops aspects--the Airforce knowing full well the activities would be broadcast worldwide!!

good point!

they could have been put on diego garcia, and only have added 30 minutes to their flight time. further, they wouldn't need flyover rights, had they done so.

btw, BUFF's can fly over 8000 miles without refueling, and can essentially stay in the air as long as needed. some ops during GW1 put BUFF's in the air for 35 hours, flying to iraq from barksdale LA and back home.

they won't necessarily drop bombs in 6 hours. one order of shock and awe, we deliver... at a time of our choosing.

[baggadonuts]

Let's git some...

[freebilly]

Let's git some...

Yow! That's going to hurt...!

[Semper Paratus]

That ought to move surrender negotiatons forward.

[UKCajun]

Lesson 1 in Negotiation Skills:

1. B52s on the way.
2. Surrender or Die.

[Petronski]

IF this is Shock and Awe, flight time from Fairford to Baghdad is appx. 6 hours?....ETA is 10:15a central

One hour after sunset in Baghdad.

[Bad~Rodeo]

ROFLMAO...

[Jumper]

ARC Light strike. Gawd, just the vaccum from air alone being pulled from the target area kills people; US forces in Nam found many a VC/NVA just sitting in the positions they were in dead from the heat/sucking.... with no damange to their bodies.

They will not even know they died.

[Bunny Brownie]

Damm, I was at work & I live in Fairford!