Four USAF B52 bombers have flown out of RAF Fairford in England this morning. The huge planes have been stationed at the Gloucestershire base for more than a month.
Their mission on Wednesday, which has seen them head out over the North Sea, comes after a televised address from Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he announced a partial mobilisation and issued a nuclear threat to the West.
The B52s from 5th Bomb Wing have conducted a number of missions since arriving in the middle of August and their arrival at RAF Fairford from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota was part of a pre-arranged deployment. There is nothing to suggest today's flight is directly linked to the Russian leaders address and the USAF usually provides details of missions after the planes have returned to base.
The planes left RAF Fairford in the Cotswolds one after the other from just before 9am to 10.39am and headed for the North Sea. Their call-signs are below.
- 08:57 RUMOR12 B-52 60-0026
- 09:15 RUMOR11 B-52 60-0023
- 10:09 RUMOR14 B-52 60-0034
- 10:39ish RUMOR13 B-52 60-0005
Last month, B52s conducted low-approach flyovers over southeastern Europe. Speaking at the time, Gen. James Hecker, USAFE-AFAFRICA and AIRCOM Commander said: “America’s resolve to support our Allies in southeastern Europe and our collective efforts with NATO have, indeed, never wavered.
“We will continue to ensure mutual protection of the freedom that all of our nations cherish.”
B-52s have been the backbone of the strategic bomber force for the United States for more than 60 years. The B-52 is capable of dropping or launching the widest array of weapons in the US inventory, the USAF said.
Vladimir Putin warned Russia would use “all the means at our disposal” to protect itself as the conflict in Ukraine threatened to spiral into a nuclear crisis. The Russian president announced a partial military mobilisation, with 300,000 reservists set to be called up as the Kremlin attempts to regain ground in the face of a counter-attack by Ukraine’s forces.
And Mr Putin said “it’s not a bluff” when he vowed that Russia would use its weapons of mass destruction if its territory was threatened. The Russian leader accused the West of “nuclear blackmail” and claimed “high-ranking representatives of the leading Nato states” had talked about the possibility of using weapons of mass destruction against Russia.
“To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction,” Mr Putin said.
Gloucestershire Live is providing live coverage of the B52s' mission here.
