MORE AIRFIELD CLOSURES - LATEST SPECULATION

Over on the dark side they are speculating on yet more airfield closures:

1) Fairford - USAF pulling out and the RAF don't want it with Brize being so close....
2) Mildenhall & Lakenheath - F-15's to Spangdahlem
3) Marham - Everything up to Lossiemouth

As I say, speculation - for the time being.

Fairford? But where will the shuttle land!!!!???

Out of curiosity, where do the USAF propose to stage for operations on this side of the globe if they don't use Fairford?

Bye bye US military, also just anounced US Navy pulling out of St Mawgan, last personnel to be gone by Sep this year.

Makes you wonder what will happen to Fairford, only spruce up recently.

Marham kind of makes sense from an operational point of view, the Tornados are very restricted in what they can do there, moves and circuit wise.

Yeah didn't they just spend a fortune on the magic B2 hangar?

Would be funny if Fairford went - was always the big military airbase near me when I grew up. Funny the thought of it not being there any more! Maybe they could just downsize and re-open Down Ampney

With all the opposition to a new runway at Heathrow and the proposal about an "Oxfordshire based new airport" I wonder if Fairford would end up being proposed for commercial use.

Marham to close, oh yes and where will Her Majesty fly in to when she goes to Sandringham. And where on earth will Lossiemouth accomodate four more squadrons? Not to forget that they have a recce role so units such as Tac Imagery wing will have to move as well. I was stationed at Marham, and no there are no problems with the circuits, also handy for ranges as well.

Mildenhall closing, very much doubt it, its their only tanker base in europe. Lakenheath, well the Yanks can low fly over the UK from there with almost no restricions, are they really going to give that up???

These rumours really are well I wont use the phrase!

But being serious has MOD done any plans for waht happens should Scotland leave the union?

...........I know, lets reopen St mawgan !! we should have had the JSF anyway!!! (not bitter or twisted........much)

Stranger things have happened, I recall three airfields re-opening in 79.

Wasn't Fairford one of them? I remember the first KC135's arriving and the first open day soon after. I was at BZN at the time.

what happens should Scotland leave the union?

Now there's a thought - in all the talk about such an event - has anyone ever stated what would be the situation regarding defence- or are the Scots hoping the Yanks will step in and look after them!

I remember , in 1995 , being in Quebec when they had one of their endless referendums(referenda?) on seperation...the Quebecois somehow got the quaint notion that the US would like look after defence for them ...then the American government basically said "up yours"

Fairford has never closed! It was for a good few years a sort of RLG for Lyneham and Brize. The three were Chivenor, Swinderby and Lindholme. Altough Lindholme only stayed open for about 6 months.