dead_pan said: I was under the impression that these were another 3 B1s inbound to Fairford from the US. I haven't seen anything about B1s departing on missions.
(Unless they routed via Iran en route, which is unlikely for B1s)
Edited to add: Just double checked - defo another 3 from the US
I beg to differ, they’ve done exactly what the first flight did, one flew direct to Fairford and the other 3 flew a bombing mission and and headed for Fairford…
More "Bones" to Europe after Iran strikes #FreeIran
--- Operation EPIC FURY ---
Once again, a flight of 4 B-1B "Lancer" bombers from the US crossed the Atlantic last night, with one aircraft 86-0140 "MOLT14" arriving into RAF Fairford. The remaining 3 jets flew to Iran to bomb targets, then flew back through Europe towards RAF Fairford earlier today.
Unfortunately, due to very poor visibility at the base, the 3 bombers elected to divert to Ramstein Airbase (ETAR) in Germany for a temporary rest stop & refuel, and should head to RAF Fairford later today to join the other bombers already there.
The full list of B-1Bs now at / expected to arrive at RAF Fairford are:
B-1B 86-0120 #AE6BFA "Whiskey Pete" (EL)
B-1B 86-0108 #AE6BF0 "Aliens with Attitude" (EL)
B-1B 86-0139 #AE6C0A "Drifter" (EL)
B-1B 86-0121 #AE6BFB "Symphony of Destruction" (EL)
B-1B 85-0064 #AE6BD3 "Eliminator" (DY)
B-1B 85-0088 #AE6BE1 (DY)
B-1B 86-0107 #AE6BEF "Dragon Slayer" (WA)
B-1B 86-0140 #AE6C0B "Last Lancer" (DY)
Apparently MOLT13 had hung up ordinance and had to explain to Ramstein that they had no option but to land with it aboard.
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