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Post by adola68 on Apr 14, 2017 17:49:56 GMT
Fighter Control has found this info: www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1152174/us-air-force-f-35a-lightning-ii-fighter-aircraft-to-deploy-to-europe-for-traini/In particular: The U.S. Air Force will deploy a small number of F-35A Lightning II aircraft this weekend on a long-planned training deployment to Europe. The aircraft are scheduled to conduct training with other U.S. and NATO aircraft based in Europe for several weeks as part of the European Reassurance Initiative.
However, no indication where they're going yet. This NOTAM for Lakenheath seems to make it unlikely it will be there: U1325/17 - LAKENHEATH RADAR APPROACH CONTROL CLOSED. NO AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES
PROVIDED/AVAILABLE. 14 APR 12:34 2017 UNTIL 18 APR 06:00 2017. CREATED: 14 APR
12:50 2017 |
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Post by adola68 on Apr 15, 2017 10:26:12 GMT
According to Fighter Control the F-35s are on their way today (15/4). A flight of 4 'HL' F-35As - callsigns 'Thud 11-14'.
There's still a lot of debate as to where they're going in Europe but the Dutch (who usually know more about what's going on in UK Military action than we do!) say definitely to Lakenheath.
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Post by andypspotter on Apr 15, 2017 13:09:27 GMT
With a callsign like that, I was hoping for F-105s! 😉
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Post by andypspotter on Apr 15, 2017 13:17:25 GMT
Confirmation from the USAFE Facebook page half an hour ago that they have recently landed at Lakenheath.
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Post by andypspotter on Apr 15, 2017 13:36:01 GMT
... and these are the scores in the doors:
13-5072/HL '388FW'
14-5094/HL
14-5096/HL
14-5097/HL
14-5098/HL
14-5102/HL
Reports suggest that they may be being put in shelters. It is also suggested that a further 2 may gave gone tech en route, so a couple more could arrive at some stage.
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Post by andypspotter on Apr 15, 2017 17:12:08 GMT
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Post by adola68 on Apr 19, 2017 10:24:59 GMT
Posters on UKAR and Fighter Control now saying 2 more F-35s due at Lakenheath today(19/04).
And 4 F-22s due at Mildenhall today and 4 more tomorrow!
If it's all true that should be amazing!
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Post by adola68 on Apr 19, 2017 15:52:44 GMT
Evidently 2 'AK' coded F-22s arrived at Mildenhall this afternoon. Info below copied from Fighter Control:
First two - Wednesday
06-4129 AK 525FS Tabor 11
06-4118 AK 525FS
(When they called on 275.625 said two ship today and the rest tomorrow)
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Post by andypspotter on Apr 19, 2017 23:40:34 GMT
This evening's arrivals at Lakenheath (19/4) were F-35s:
13-5081/HL
14-5091/HL
which join the other six already present.
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Post by andypspotter on Apr 20, 2017 10:31:57 GMT
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Post by andypspotter on Apr 25, 2017 21:24:08 GMT
Today (25/4) marked the deployed F-35s' first foray to mainland Europe
14-5094/HL
14-5102/HL
were the machines involve, returning to Lakenheath during the evening.
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Post by graham on Apr 26, 2017 8:03:58 GMT
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Post by andypspotter on Apr 26, 2017 9:13:52 GMT
Cheers Graham
A very nice selection of based and visiting aircraft.
You can always trust the yanks to put on a 'show' even if, in reality, it's just fairly regular ops.
No doubt when the US budget negotiations hits the buffers in the coming week, as is expected, things might change. I understand it is all dependent on the building of a wall, and not one in Berlin!
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Post by andypspotter on May 3, 2017 22:20:41 GMT
If the BBC report from earlier within the deployment is to be believed, the F-35s should be heading back across the pond in the coming days. Certainly, their lack of ops today (Wed 3/5) might suggest that they are packing up in preparation to going home.
Of course, F-35s are likely to become 'bog-standard' at Lakenheath from 2020 onwards.
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Post by andypspotter on May 4, 2017 22:08:06 GMT
As anticipated the first batch of F-35s headed back to Hill AFB today, departing shortly after 09:00 (4/5).
The aircraft involved were:
13-5072/HL '388FW'
14-5091/HL
14-5097/HL
14-5102/HL
Air spares that departed and subsequently returned were:
13-5081/HL
14-5094/HL
These two and the remaining pair are expected to depart tomorrow (Fri 5/5)
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