Noticed a USAF C-17 go right round the houses yesterday: took off from Rota, N across Spain to the Lizard, NE, passing over London to Clacton, across to The Netherlands and down to Ramstein where, after a brief hold at 21000', it landed. Curiouser and curiouser...
I saw that one yesterday as well, but gave up following after it went out over the North Sea. Perhaps a training mission of some kind, but as you say a very curious affair. All those tax-dollars getting burned for little benefit it would seem.