From the end of August until late September, a trio of USAF B-2A Spirits operated from RAF Fairford on a Bomber Task Force rotation. Jim Winchester reports on this European deployment by the stealth bomber.
Three USAF Northrop Grumman B-2A Spirits, supported by over 150 personnel completed a deployment to RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire on September 19 when they returned to Whiteman AFB, Missouri. The rotation demonstrated the ability to set up a Spirit forward operating base in Europe. While in the UK they undertook integration sorties with RAF F-35B Lightnings – the first time they have flown in formation with foreign fighters – and USAF F-15 Eagles, and made brief visits to Iceland and the Azores.