Lancer BTF commenced at Fairford

With a couple of days delay, four DY coded B-1B Lancers from 7th Bomb Wing, flew from their homebase Dyess AFB (TX) to RAF Fairford (UK) on 6 and 7 October 2021.

Air Force Global Strike Command's Lancers, supporting equipment, and personnel consisting of the majority of the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, arrived at Fairford to execute a long-planned Bomber Task Force (BTF) deployment. Scramble Magazine published on 28 September the upcoming deployment.

The USAF has been conducting BTF missions to Europe since 2018, which have consisted of rotations of B-1B Lancers, B-52H Stratofortresses, and, most recently, B-2A Spirits. Although not confirmed, the word on the street says that more B-1Bs will be deployed to Fairford in due time.

The following DY coded B-1Bs are currently deployed to Fairford: 86-0103, 86-0110, 86-0136 and 86-0140 (as 345th BS flagship).

Photos: Peter Reoch (on Twitter) and Defence Images UK