B52 bombers conducted a 15-hour long-range mission over Europe and the Mediterranean sea on Tuesday as the war in Ukraine continued to rage. The United States Air Force planes were escorted by aircraft from Denmark, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and United Kingdom.
Two of the bombers from the 5th Bomb Squadron with call-signs OKIE01 and OKIE02 left their temporary base at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire at around 9am returning a little before midnight. The bombers' long-planned presence in England is not directly linked to the war in Ukraine following Russia's invasion, but such missions are designed to demonstrate NATO's readiness to defend its territories from any aggressor
“The readiness of our strategic bomber force plays a critical role in our unwavering support to NATO,” said Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa deputy commander. “Missions like this provide invaluable training opportunities to improve our interoperability alongside our allies and partners. When we work together, our forces are capable of adapting to today’s complex security environment.
