B-52's Shock and Awe

[WindSheer]

Hiya guy's,

Just thinking back to 2003, when the B-52's were flying sortie's from Fairford to Iraq fully armed.

What kind of ATC measures were used for this kind of mission.
I.e, were the aircraft flying the airways across Europe in amongst regular scheduled traffic or were they routed 'avoidingly'?
Did they speak to London atc as would regular UK departure's?

Weird question I know, but just wondered how this sort of thing is handled.

:confused:

[dixi188]

I don't know about 2003, but in early 1999 when they were bombing parts of the former Yugoslavia they departed Fairford about 11am. and flew over my house near Yeovilton heading southwest.

The bombing was live on the news at about 6.30pm and then the news had them landing back at about 10pm.

Also had 3 of them on London frequency one evening heading west decending while we were going from Stansted to Cologne.

So I guess they went the long way round via the Atlantic and Med when armed and the short way home after they had dropped their bombs.

I think in 2003 they went from Fairford to Diego Garcia via Bagdad, but I have no idea of the routing.