100th ARW gone by the end of 2016?

[jp 74]

Finally, something that has not been mentioned is the fact that fuel storage tanks for the 100ARW will presumably need to be constructed at Ramstein. Believe me, KC-135s do not 'fill-up' from bowsers and enormous amounts of fuel will need to be stored in underground tanks to re-supply the 15 KC-135s there, if and when they move. Has any of this work commenced at Ramstein yet?????? No decision has been made to cancel the proposed move to Ramstein that I know of, but I doubt it being soon!

Have you ever heard of the Central Europe Pipeline System (CEPS). I think that will answer your question concerning fuel storage at Ramstein...!
Btw. UK MoD announced that it doesn't need RAF Mildenhall after the USAF pulls out in 2023. http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/min ... -1-7667494
Enjoy the last years of flying ops at Mildenhall. I personally can't wait for the closure of that Airfield

I can't believe spotters are happy with the closure of any airbase..... especially Mildenhall it is kind of a special place to be.
however, i believe the KC135 are going to Ramstein, spec ops to Spang, Vipers from Spang to Aviano an Lakenheat is going to get F35A's and will work together with the F15E's for some time.

[Starman]

I assume our man at EDDS is hoping for increased activity at his sad local Flughafen, but if any of our younger readers are thinking along the same lines, he is quite insensitive to the recent* history of EGUN. Obviously he never awoke with the feeling that his tent was being lifted off it's drunkenly fitted pegs by the backwash from a pair of J-58s at full bore - it was, and he didn't spend a chilly night "on the mound" watching scores of KC-135As and many Unicorns heading out to refuel the Swingers departing in the distance on their way to "take care of business" in North Africa for their commander in chief. Probably didn't even attempt to write off their Mark 1 Escort racing round to catch a U-2 landing. Aaaaah, the good old days. Apart from many a rainy bank holiday weekend outside the fence logging the air show arrivals. Did I mention the rain?
* recent, I can't mention the KC-97s and EC-121s without on my keyboard

[Gerard]

Obviously he never awoke with the feeling that his tent was being lifted off it's drunkenly fitted pegs by the backwash from a pair of J-58s at full bore

Aaaaaahhhhh, memories

[Arjan]

Moving the tankers to Ramstein will make the 351st part of the 86th I guess? Or will they keep both wings alive? I also wonder if the squadron will transition to the KC-46 at Ramstein, or maybe they'll resolve the 351th and equip a new build squadron at Ramstein. Read somewhere that squadrons will also be equipped with less KC-46 so less ramp space might be required.

[wamovements]

Vipers from Spang to Aviano

This is new information to me. AFAIK 480th FS will continue at Spang.

[gortje]

UPDATED: Confusion over RAF Mildenhall’s future after Defence Estate review

The Ministry of Defence has announced that it will not require RAF Mildenhall for RAF use after the United States Visiting Forces depart in 2023 but the British Army may move in. The MoD, which owns the site, announced in January that part of the site will be released for housing and was considering whether it wanted to retain part of the site for British military use. But a strategic review of its estate, announced yesterday, said ‘no UK reprovision [is] required’ for the RAF once the USAF leaves. That was interpreted by some as meaning the MoD no longer required it. But when the Bury Free Press asked for clarification today, an MoD spokesman said: “The RAF do not require the site though there may be Army interest in Mildenhall once it has been released back to the UK.” Forest Heath District Council and Mildenhall’s MP Matt Hancock are both today seeking clarification from the MoD after being led to believe the ministry was giving up the base completely. Cllr James Waters, leader of Forest Heath District Council, said yesterday:“Today’s announcement is the next step towards understanding how the regeneration of RAF Mildenhall will take place. “It provides the opportunity to take the work of the council and its partners and to say to the Government and the MoD. “Now let’s work together to achieve an economic legacy for the site that we can all be proud of.”
economic legacy for the site that we can all be proud of.” West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock said today that he had a letter from the MoD saying that it no longer needed the site, but he would be going back to them to seek clarification. He had welcomed the announcement as setting a firm date by which the MoD will leave the whole site was ‘a very helpful step’. Forest Heath has been consulting the public on RAF Mildenhall’s future in the hope of influencing Government decisions on the base. Cllr Waters said their vision for the site is one which ‘creates new jobs, provides land for new industry coupled with housing and aviation use centred around maintenance, repair and overhaul - a fantastic way to bring new employment to the area and retain use of the runway and other aviation infrastructure on site’.

Today’s confusion is not the first over the site. When the MoD announced almost a year ago that RAF Mildenhall would be available for housing it incorrectly said it had outline planning permission for 4,000 homes there when no application has ever been made. Yesterday’s report does clarify what is happening to RAF Barnham near Thetford. It says the RAF Regiment housing there will be provided for at RAF Honington though the force will still require access to the training area there.

Source http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/upd ... -1-7668335

[jp 74]

Vipers from Spang to Aviano

This is new information to me. AFAIK 480th FS will continue at Spang.

I really hope you are right.

[nellis6]

I assume our man at EDDS is hoping for increased activity at his sad local Flughafen, but if any of our younger readers are thinking along the same lines, he is quite insensitive to the recent* history of EGUN. Obviously he never awoke with the feeling that his tent was being lifted off it's drunkenly fitted pegs by the backwash from a pair of J-58s at full bore - it was, and he didn't spend a chilly night "on the mound" watching scores of KC-135As and many Unicorns heading out to refuel the Swingers departing in the distance on their way to "take care of business" in North Africa for their commander in chief. Probably didn't even attempt to write off their Mark 1 Escort racing round to catch a U-2 landing. Aaaaah, the good old days. Apart from many a rainy bank holiday weekend outside the fence logging the air show arrivals. Did I mention the rain?
* recent, I can't mention the KC-97s and EC-121s without on my keyboard

Well said that man, why on earth would anybody be pleased at the closure of any base? There are so few left anyway, another closure is never good news no matter where it is. As you say, I assume he is awaiting an increase in traffic at his local, oh how I would laugh if the DoD changed their mind and kept Mildenhall open and closed his local (although of course that goes against my previous comment!)

[nellis6]

Finally, something that has not been mentioned is the fact that fuel storage tanks for the 100ARW will presumably need to be constructed at Ramstein. Believe me, KC-135s do not 'fill-up' from bowsers and enormous amounts of fuel will need to be stored in underground tanks to re-supply the 15 KC-135s there, if and when they move. Has any of this work commenced at Ramstein yet?????? No decision has been made to cancel the proposed move to Ramstein that I know of, but I doubt it being soon!

Have you ever heard of the Central Europe Pipeline System (CEPS). I think that will answer your question concerning fuel storage at Ramstein...!
Btw. UK MoD announced that it doesn't need RAF Mildenhall after the USAF pulls out in 2023. http://www.buryfreepress.co.uk/news/min ... -1-7667494
Enjoy the last years of flying ops at Mildenhall. I personally can't wait for the closure of that Airfield

I already know that Mildenhall is scheduled for closure, you aren't telling me anything I do not already know! The question/debate is whether or not the 100ARW will move out by end of 2016 and so your link and comment about 2023 is irrelevant! My response was that based on my recent conversations with people at RAF Mildenhall, I felt it highly unlikely that moving out during 2016 would happen. I asked the question about fuel at Ramstein as an additional question and despite the pipeline I would still have thought that additional fuel storage would be required or built there and asked as to whether any work had commenced on it. Please also bear in mind an election is underway in the U.S and things can change, either by way of a new party in power or a change in the political situation. So wind your neck in and be a little more diplomatic with your responses!

[Jovel]

http://www.stripes.com/news/under-trump ... y-1.438413

[Le Addeur noir]

Can't wait for closure????

Maybe you can explain. But I don't get your point!

A reliable non-spotting source reported on a military site that the 100th was very close to being disbanded.

If you read and absorb what I posted at the top of the thread, I am just trying to find out if there was any credibility in this.

It seems from subsequent posts, there is not.

Yesterday's US election may well see the RAF Mildenhall closure plan be totally abandoned.

Time will tell.

[K-9]

It may also see it happen asap.
If european nations do not take more action, stepping up their defences ...

Time will time

[B727]

I am not hoping for increased traffic at EDDS. Stuttgart is one of the most important Airfields for the USAFE, it was involved in many live ops the last years like the Osama Bin Laden raid...! First there are many Airfields with a great History that were closed, Sembach AFB, Zweibrücken AFB, Alconbury AFB, Rhein Main AFB, Pferdsfeld AFB...! Thats a endless List. But there are many points that regret for a closure of Mildenhall.
1. Mildenhall infrastructure ist totaly outdated and needs a lot of budget to get on a current status.
2. Most missions of 100th ARW are flown over central and southern Europe. Relocation to Ramstein will save a lot of the budget.
3. 352nd SOW training opportunities are even better at Germany. Huge Military training areas at Baumholder and Grafenwöhr. Special Forces based at Panzerkasseren at Böblingen and Baumholder and awesome Low flying possibilities in the Mosel valley will be perfect for them.
4. Ramstein & Spangdahlem are the most modern Airfields of the USAFE in Europe with space for housing additional Squadrons.

Closing Mildenhall will set free budget that is needed for other things, like Exercises and deployments to Europe.
Btw. 100th ARW is to busy to get disbanded. They will move on to Ramstein, Ramp5 will be there new home. And Ramstein AFB dosen't need a increase fuel storage for them.

Yesterday's US election may well see the RAF Mildenhall closure plan be totally abandoned.

No. If you have followed the debate Trump is standing for a friendship with Russia and drawback from Europe. Hillary Clinton as POTUS would have seen a build up of US Forces in Europe.

[Stratofreighter]

Can't wait for closure????

Maybe you can explain. But I don't get your point!

I think someone mis-understood you and replied to you as such.
I got the message though.

Indeed, some people should be somewhat more diplomatic in their replies,
especially in this thread/subject...

No aviation enthusiast likes his/(her ) local airbase being closed.

[Alpha Kilo One]

Uhhhhh. I seem to miss the point. What is not diplomatic in my question? I am only asking for clarification. That's all folks!