|
Day |
Month |
Year |
Event |
|
2nd |
May |
2000 |
McAlpine were awarded the contract for the
re-construction of RAF Fairford's runway and airfield
surfaces.
|
|
30th |
May |
2000 |
The airfield was closed and construction work began.
|
|
15th |
Jun |
2001 |
The first phase of construction work was complete and
the runway re-opened.
|
|
12th |
Jul |
2001 |
A B-1B, KC-135 and C-21 visited for a runway opening
ceremony.
|
|
5h |
Sep |
2001 |
A NATO exercise saw C-5s, C-141s, C-17s, MC-130s and
EC-130s visit RAF Fairford over a two week period.
|
| |
Dec |
2001 |
The second construction phase was complete and provided
RAF Fairford with
an interim bomber operating capability should it be
required for Operating Enduring Freedom.
|
| |
Mar |
2002 |
A B-52 visited RAF Fairford to test out the new taxiway
surfaces but suffered an undercarriage problem on
departure and stayed for an extra week.
|
| |
Mar |
2002 |
Aircraft, ground crew and operators from the 352nd Special Operations Group
deployed to RAF Fairford from RAF Mildenhall for a
training exercise.
|
| |
May |
2002 |
US Army MH-6 helicopters deployed to RAF Fairford for a
training exercise in the local area.
|
|
21st |
May |
2002 |
The third construction phase was complete and RAF Fairford's airfield was declared operational again at a
second
opening ceremony.
|
|
20th |
Jul |
2002 |
The Royal International Air Tattoo air show returned to
RAF Fairford after a two year absence. During the
flying display an Italian G-222 crashed on the new runway.
|
| |
Aug |
2002 |
Aircraft, ground crew and operators from the 352nd SOG
deployed to RAF Fairford from RAF Mildenhall for another
training exercise.
|
|
|
Sep |
2002 |
Two B-1Bs stayed at RAF Fairford while visiting a
defence exhibition in South Africa.
|
|
|
Oct |
2002 |
The Italian G-222 which crashed at RIAT finally left for
home
after repair work.
|
| |
Oct |
2002 |
KC-135 tanker aircraft from RAF Mildenhall deployed over a weekend to
test the base's new fuel hydrant systems.
|
| |
Oct |
2002 |
Aircraft, ground crew and operators from the 352nd SOG
deployed to RAF Fairford from RAF Mildenhall for a
training exercise.
|
| |
Nov |
2002 |
B-1Bs from Dyess AFB, Texas stayed at RAF Fairford while
visiting their sister squadron 9 Squadron, RAF at RAF
Marham and took
part in NATO exercises at the same time.
|
|
|
Jan |
2003 |
As part of their worldwide operations three U-2s passed
through RAF Fairford.
|
| |
Jan |
2003 |
Preparations for the future operations saw regular
visits by C-21, C-12 and KC-135 aircraft.
|
| |
Mar |
2003 |
As part of their worldwide operations four more U-2s
passed through RAF Fairford. |
| |
Mar |
2003 |
The 457th Air Expeditionary Group was formed at RAF
Fairford to support deployed B-52s as part of Operation
Iraqi Freedom.
|
|
3rd |
Mar |
2003 |
The first of fourteen B-52s arrived from Minot AFB, North Dakota.
|
|
4th |
Mar |
2003 |
The last of the fourteen deployed B-52s arrived and
begun preparing for combat operations over Iraq.
|
|
4th |
Mar |
2003 |
The US Ambassador visited deployed personnel at RAF
Fairford.
|
|
14th |
Mar |
2003 |
Eight B-52s left RAF Fairford for the first wave of
strikes on Iraq.
|
|
18h |
Mar |
2003 |
An HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was deployed to RAF
Fairford to enhance perimeter security.
|
|
21st |
Mar |
2003 |
A Greenpeace hot air balloon flew dangerously close to
the airfield while dropping leaflets on the base.
|
|
10th |
Apr |
2003 |
The 457th AEG flew their 100th combat mission in the
23rd BS's flag ship aircraft.
|
|
11th |
Apr |
2003 |
An Air Force Reserve crew from Barksdale AFB performed the first B-52 mission
to use the newly
certified Litening-II laser targeting pod.
|
|
16th |
Apr |
2003 |
English politician Ian Duncan Smith visited RAF
Fairford.
|
|
18th |
Apr |
2003 |
General Tommy Franks, head of US Centcom visited RAF
Fairford.
|
|
24th |
Apr |
2003 |
The B-52 bombers departed RAF Fairford.
|
| |
May |
2003 |
U-2s that were deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom
returned home through RAF Fairford.
|
|
19th |
Jul |
2003 |
The Royal International Air Tattoo was held at RAF
Fairford.
|
| |
Nov |
2003 |
KC-135s from RAF Mildenhall performed a mini deployment
in preparation for their deployment in early 2004.
|
|
14th |
Jan |
2004 |
RAF Fairford became home to the 420th Air Base Group,
the stand up ceremony was held with two A-10s, a KC-135,
MH-53 and C-21 present.
|
| |
Feb |
2004 |
KC-135 tanker aircraft from RAF Mildenhall deployed to
RAF Fairford for 5 months while their home runway was
re-surfaced. Maintenance work on MC-130 aircraft
that was normally done at RAF Mildenhall was also moved
to RAF Fairford.
|
|
17th |
Jul |
2004 |
The Royal International Air Tattoo was held at RAF
Fairford.
|
|
10th |
Dec |
2004 |
The base's new B-2 capable large aircraft hangar was
officially opened.
|
|
16th |
Jul |
2005 |
The Royal International Air Tattoo was held at RAF
Fairford.
|
|
|
Sep |
2005 |
VC-10, Tri-Star and C-17 aircraft from nearby RAF Brize
Norton arrive for a deployment while their home runway
was re-surfaced. Additional visiting aircraft
throughout the deployment included 747s, An-124s and
Chinook helicopters.
|
|
|
Sep |
2005 |
B-52s deployed to support Exercise Bright Star 2005
along with supporting KC-135s. B-1Bs deployed at
the same time to take part in training missions.
|
|
|
Feb |
2006 |
The RAF deployment, Operation Bolthole, finished
slightly later than expected when the aircraft return to
their home station RAF Brize Norton.
|
|
23rd |
Mar |
2006 |
A pair of B-2 aircraft visited RAF Fairford to test the
three new large aircraft hangars on base while two B-1s
visited for training flights within the UK.
|