Four B-52 Stratofortress bombers assigned to Bomber Task Force Europe - a rotating deployment of heavy bombers from the US to Europe - have been flying training missions from RAF Fairford in England.
During these training missions, the bombers practice actual missions they might be called upon to perform in a crisis situation – like working with Allied Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) to provide Close Air Support for friendly troops in combat. As they fly over Europe, the B-52s are escorted by Allied fighters, giving them a chance to practice flying alongside the bombers.
Bomber Task Force Europe rotations began in 2018 to provide bomber crews invaluable opportunities to train with air and ground forces from other NATO countries. Rotations can deploy to air bases in several Allied countries, including Norway, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom.
For this rotation, bombers from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, based at Minot Air Force Base in the US, deployed to RAF Fairford in the UK.
Click here to download the b-roll. Footage includes shots of B-25s launching and flying a training mission over Eastern Europe, and an interview with rotation commander Lieutenant Colonel Jospeh Cangealose.