A massive B52 bomber has flown from RAF Fairford in England and headed towards Europe this morning (Monday, March 21). The flight comes as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues.
The United States Air Force planes have been at the base in Gloucestershire since before the invasion as part of a pre-planned deployment. They have taken part in long arranged training exercises over England, Wales, Europe and the Arctic.
Their frequent deployments to RAF Fairford are part of Bomber Task Force Command's role in proving a deterrent. The are also flown to showcase the military might of the US and its role in supporting partners in Nato.
Information from a flight monitoring site adsbexchange.com showed the Stratofortress flying over Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Oxfordshire and then towards Peterborough and over the North Sea from Norwich. It then flew over the Netherlands and then to German airspace.
What is a B-52?
The US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, nuclear and conventional heavy bomber that can perform a wide variety of missions. The bombers are capable of flying at high subsonic altitudes of up to 50,000 feet, the bomber can carry precision-guided conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capabilities.
Affectionately known as BUFFs (Big Ugly Fat Fellas or a similar word beginning with F) - these big beasts cost around $14million each. In active service since 1955, they were built to carry nuclear weapons during the Cold War.
Each plane can carry up to 70,000 lbs of weapons and has a combat range of around 8,800 miles without refuelling. They were used extensively during the Vietnam War and have seen more recent service in the Gulf Wars and last year during the aerial bombardment of Syria.
