This last of the US Air Force's B-52 bombers have left RAF Fairford after months of being stationed at the Gloucestershire airbase. On Tuesday, the final "Stratofortress" long-range strategic bombers climbed into West Country's airspace and made their way back to the United States.
The B-52s, commonly called "buffs" by aviation enthusiasts, were deployed in Europe as part of the US' regular Bomber Task Force - which aims to boost cooperation and training between America and its allies. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a greater number of "buffs" and U2 spy planes could be seen operating out of RAF Fairford on flight scanners, as NATO tests its combat readiness, reports Gloucestershire Live.
Shortly before their departure, the B-52s stationed at Fairford celebrated the 70th anniversary of the strategic bomber's first flight, April 15. However, these are not ancient relics of war, having been updated and retrofitted in the seven decades since - with the US recently announcing that they had managed to fire cutting-edge hypersonic missiles from a "buff".
