[Dave W]

The closure of RAF Mildenhall has been postponed until at least 2027.

The Suffolk base was set to be closed in 2023.

A US Air Force spokesman at RAF Mildenhall said: "All decisions for the European Infrastructure Consolidation effort that were announced in 2015 are continuing as planned.

"However, the estimated divestiture date of RAF Mildenhall is no earlier than 2027."
The decision to close the base was made in 2015.

However, in 2017, reports emerged that the US Department of Defense was reconsidering its plans.

In 2018, it was announced that more than 500 RAF and US Air Force personnel and their families would move to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire within the next five years.

[CloudHound]

Fairford is expanding its operations though. Talks with them in connection with Kemble indicated arrival of Mildenhall assets before 2023.

[PeteSpencer]

Change of date will fit in nicely for Marshall’s to move in

[Dave W]

Plans to move tankers, special operations wing from Mildenhall to Germany are put on hold

Plans to close RAF Mildenhall in England and move its refueling tankers and a special operations wing to Germany have been put on hold, the Pentagon said this week.

The “action to divest RAF Mildenhall is on pause until U.S. European Command completes a reassessment of the previous closure decision and the U.S. Department of Defense makes a decision on the future of the installation,” a Pentagon official with knowledge of the matter said in a statement Monday.

[Korenwolf]

...and today announced that the base will not now be closing.

"the 2,500 airmen based in Mildenhall, United Kingdom, who are responsible for aerial refueling and special operations, and who had been scheduled to re-base to Germany, will remain in the U.K., thus ensuring the uninterrupted readiness and responsiveness of these units."

https://www.defense.gov/newsroom/Speech ... pers-open/

[NDB_hold]

Remain in the UK - not necessarily at Mildenhall.

[PeteSpencer]

Difficult to imagine they’d want to close down the refuelling wing infrastructure only to re imagine the whole expensive setup somewhere else in the UK

Peter

[Dave W]

Whilst not as authoritative a source as @Korenwolf's Defense Department link, (US) Air Force Magazine says (my bold):

Additionally, the 100th Air Refueling Wing, which flies the KC-135 tanker, and 352nd Special Operations Wing will stay at Mildenhall instead of moving to Spangdahlem as planned.

[kanga]

I assume the Rivet Joint squadron will still be moving to Fairford, where there has already been infrastructure built in anticipation. However. Trump diverted some DoD funds assigned to it to fund the Mexico border wall.

[Rob P]

I presume this means Angela has upset Donnie?

Rob P

[CloudHound]

More likely her successor?

[skydriller]

I dont think there is one yet, there hasnt been an election yet has there?... Though she has said she will stand down at the end of this term of office.

[Full Metal Jackass]

I presume this means Angela has upset Donnie?

Rob P

What was it he called her? Oh yeah, a freeloader. Cos she still isn’t spending 2% GDP on defence whilst cosying up to Russia as their new pipeline is completed.


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[Dave W]

Official clarification from last week - the closure isn't going ahead:

Capt Spreier said: "There are currently no plans to close RAF Mildenhall."

[Dave W]

I see that the special ops MC-130s and MV-22s from Mildenhall (as well as supporting Mildenhall KC-135Rs) have been busy over the past few days.

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