Iran

[ORAC]

https://x.com/DefenceGeek/status/203...096249815?s=20

​​​​​​​Bomber Mission 50 - Another Triple B-1 Run #FreeIran!

--- Operation EPIC FURY ---

Yesterday morning (1st April 2026), RAF Fairford (EGVA) launched a flight of 3 B-1B "Lancer" bombers as "LATER" flight - the second time this callsign has been used by bombers on #OperationEpicFury missions from the UK. Unusually for this mission, all of the aerial refuelling on the outbound and return legs of this journey were carried out by tankers from Sofia (LBSF).

Involved aircraft were:

Mission 50:
B-1B "LATER51" 85-0060 #AE6BD1 "Doolittle Raiders"
B-1B "LATER52" 85-0069 #AE6BD0 "Avenger"
B-1B "LATER53" 86-0108 #AE6BF0 "Aliens with Attitude"

KC-135R "PETRO70" 62-3564 #AE07BC
KC-135R "PETRO71" 63-7976 #AE038D
KC-135R "PETRO72" 60-0318 #AE0376
KC-135R "PETRO73" 62-3569 #AE066E
KC-135R "PETRO94" 58-0065 #AE0242

KC-135? (x3) "PETRO95" to "PETRO97" ?

https://x.com/DefenceGeek/status/203...422379527?s=20

​​​​​​​Bomber Mission 51 - Via Gibraltar again #FreeIran!

--- Operation EPIC FURY ---

The second RAF Fairford (EGVA)-launched bomber mission yesterday was also B-1B "Lancer" - this time flying via Gibraltar instead of over France (I know i've had a lot of angry French people in my replies telling me all the bombers have all re-routed - they haven't - yet!) In this instance it mean meeting with Lajes (LPLA)-based tankers on the outbound, and Bucharest (LROP) on the return.

Involved were:

Mission 51
B-1B "TOGS42" 85-0088 #AE6BE1 (Nickname disputed)
B-1B "TOGS43" 86-0138 #AE6C09 "Seek and Destroy"

KC-46A "PETRO11" 17-46027 #AE5E08 (From LPLA)
KC-46A "PETRO12" 20-46075 #AE63B7 (From LPLA)
KC-46A "PETRO13" 19-46108 #AF8444 (From LPLA)
KC-46A "PETRO14" 20-46082 #AE63BE (From LPLA)

KC-135R "PETRO31" 63-8035 #AE04ED (From LROP)
KC-135R "PETRO32" 57-1486 #AE041D (From LROP)
KC-135R "PETRO33" 59-1448 #AE047C (From LROP)
KC-135R "PETRO34" 58-0073 #AE047A (From LROP)

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