1990
BUSY WARRIOR 90-1 – 19 Apr to 30 Apr
B-52G 2nd BW Barksdale AFB : 58-0212, 58-0258, 59-2598
Deployed under Busy Warrior 90-1 tor participation in NATO exercise Elder Forest, this trio arrived from Barksdale as “Doom 80-82”. Local missions were flown from 23rd April onwards under the call-sign prefix “Gibber” and the aircraft were flown home on 30th April as “Doom 81-83”(Air-Britain Aeromilitaria 2007 Spring)
MIGHTY WARRIOR – 12 June to 25 June
B-52G 2nd BW Barksdale AFB : 59-2570, 58-0202, 58-0258, 59-2588, 59-2565
This Mighty Warrior deployment involved five aircraft for participation in NATO exercise Central Enterprise. 59-2570 (“Jambo 12′) arrived from A&AEE Boscombe Down on 12th June, 58-0202, 58-0258 & 59-2588 (“Jambo 11-13′) followed from Barksdale on 14th June and the straggler, 59-2565
(“Jambo 10′), came in on 15th June having diverted into Loring AFB the previous day with a problem. Local missions were flown from 18th June onwards, the call-sign prefix “Claw” being used throughout. 58-0202 was flown to Bierset, Belgium on 22nd June as “Jambo 14” for static display at the Belgian Air Force air show held that weekend and it returned home directly from Bierset on 25th June under the same radio call-sign. The other four departed Fairford for Barksdale on 25th June as “Jambo 10-13” (Air-Britain Aeromilitaria 2007 Spring)
Sep – The expected B-52G deployment was cancelled due to the invasion of Kuwait
1991
July: B-52H 60-0031 (7 BW), B-52G 58-0229 (97 BW) & B-1B 86-0140 (384 BW) attended the International Air Tattoo (www.scramble.nl)
BUSY WARRIOR 29 Aug to 14 Sep 1991
B-52G 42nd BW Loring AFB : 58-0195, 58-0206, 58-0216,58-0218, 58-0226
The first Busy Warrior deployment following the Gulf War brought four 42ndBW B-52Gs in from Loring AFB on 29th August as “Claw 01/02/03/05”, the straggler (58-0195 “Claw 04′) following a day behind the others. Missions took place from 2nd September onwards, the aircraft taking part in NATO exercises which included Action Express, Elder Joust and Cold Fire. 58-0216 flew a local sortie on 31st August as “Claw 01 “to take part in the flying display at Chievres, Belgium. The same aircraft was detached to RAF Upper Heyford as “Claw 01” from 6th until 9th September for static display at Sky Pageant 91 held there that weekend. Three of the aircraft (58-0195, 58-0206 & 58-0226) returned home to Loring as “Claw 01-03” on 13th September while the other pair followed as “Claw 01/02” on 14th September (Air-Britain Aeromilitaria 2007 Spring)
1992
BUSY WARRIOR 6 Mar 1992 to 19 Mar 1992
B-52G 42nd BW Loring AFB : 58-0195, 58-0216, 58-0226, 58-0230, 58-0255
This Busy Warrior deployment was for participation in NATO exercises Elder Forest and Teamwork 92. All five B-52Gs came in from Loring AFB on 6th March as “Moose 41-45” but their departure at the end was staggered, 58-0216, 58-0226 & 58-0230 leaving as “Toxi 03-05” on 18th March and the other two following 24 hours later as “Cage 01/02” (Air-Britain Aeromilitaria 2007 Spring)
9 Mar the jets began flying missions for Exercise ‘Teamwork 92’
CENTRAL ENTERPRISE
19 June – 29 June
B-52H 92nd WG Fairchild AFB, Washington:
- 61-0017 (arrived 18 June – departed 29 June) – this jet arrived at Boscombe Down on 11 June for the air display, where it took part in the static display. The aircraft flew directly from Fairchild AFB, WA using the call sign “CZAR 08”. 16 June it was repositioned to Upper Heyford using the call sign “CZAR 08”. 18 June it departed Upper Heyford and positioned to Fairford using the callsign “CZAR 08”.
- 61-0003 (call sign “SANPYP 1”), 61-0008 (call sign “SANPYP 2”), 61-0040 (call sign “SANPYP 3”) , 61-0028 (call sign “SANPYP 4”) – all arrived 19 June directly from Fairchild AFB
Exercise missions were flown between 22 – 26 June
June 29th – All of the B-52’s departed back to Fairchild. 61-0003 (call sign “SANPYP 1”), 61-0017 (call sign “SANPYP 2”), 61-0040 (call sign “SANPYP 3”), 61-0008 (call sign “SANPYP 4”) and 61-0028 (call sign “SANPYP 5”).
1993
CORONET COMET
3 June – 21 June
B-52H 416th BW Griffiss AFB:
- 60-0030, 60-0060 (arrived 3 June – departed 21 June)
- 60-0024 (arrived 4 June – departed 21 June)
3rd June 60-0030 arrived as “Griff 51” and 60-0060 “Griff 52” – both aircraft departed from Griffiss AFB and carried out a mission into Europe before landing at Fairford. 4th June 60-0024 arrived as “1B343” again having carried out a mission into Europe before landing at Fairford.
On the 21st June the B-52H deployment came to an end with the aircraft leaving as follows – 60-0030 “Griff 05”, 60-0060 “Griff 32” and 60-0024 “Griff 31”, all of the Stratofortresses left for Griffiss AFB.
60-0030 B-52H 416th Bomb Wing, Griffiths AFB, RAF Fairford 8-6-1993
by Stuart Freer – Touchdown Aviation
CENTRAL ENTERPRISE
3x B-1B:
- 86-0118 (319th BW) – arrived 16 June – departed 21 June following an engine change)
- 86-0133 (28th BW / 77 BS) – arrived 16 June – departed 16 June
- 85-0085 (28th BW / 37 BS) – arrived 16 June – departed 16 June
Three B-1B Lancers arrived on the 16th June – the aircraft all landed at Fairford after flying a mission into Europe. All three aircraft used a mission call-sign whilst flying in Europe and it was only when they got nearer to Fairford that they changed to the more conventional call-sign of “Bone”. 86-0118 arrived as “Bone 01” using “4FM301” as the mission call-sign, and this was accompanied by 86-0133 “Bone 02” (“4FM302”) and 85-0085 “Bone 03” (“4FM303”). All three aircraft should have left for home later in the day on the 16th, but 86-0118 ingested ice into one of its engines on the flight inbound and this prevented from leaving until the 21st. It departed home to Grand Forks AFB after having an engine changed.
July: B-52H 60-0001 2nd WG/2Oth BS & B-1B 85-0077 28th BW/77th BS attended the International Air Tattoo (www.scramble.nl)
Aug – Exercise ‘Roaring Lion’ a joint UK-US paradrop exercise on Salisbury Plain. The highlight was a mass drop from seven Starlifters which took place during the early hours of 7 August after which the aircraft all recovered to Fairford in close formation. Approaching from the south in line astern at low-level, they turned right over the field to come back round for a left break over 27.At one stage during their landing there were three aircraft on the runway, quite a sight for those onlookers there at six in the morning! All seven departed 8 Aug. (source BARG)
The airfield was invaded by Starlifters on the 7th after they dropped 650 paratroopers over Salisbury Plain, the troops were from the Southern European Task Force’s 3rd Battalion, 325th Infantry (Airbourne Battalion Combat Team) and conducted training missions concentrating on operations in built up areas. (source TVAS Centreline).
CORONET INVADER
2 Sep – 20 Sep
B-52H 416th BW Griffiss AFB:
- 61-0020, 61-0021 (arrived 2 September – departed 20 September)
- 61-0015 (arrived 2 September – departed 20 September) This jet was launched on a round trip on 18 September to take part in the flying displays at both Leuchars and Finningley.
- 60-0012 (arrived 2 September) – This jet made two air show static display appearances during its stay. The first being Norvenich, Germany, departing Fairford on the 10 September, returning 13 September. The second appearance was Leuchars, Scotland, flown there 16 September before departing for its home base in the US from Scotland 20 September.
The aircraft taking part in exercise “Northern Banner” during the first week of their stay and exercise “Elder Joust” during the second.
416th Bomb Wing T-Shirt
1994
CORONET NOVA / RESOLUTE RESPONSE
30th April – 15th May
4x KC-135s from the Illinois ANG
8x F-16A 182FG / 169FS Illinois ANG
http://www.sharpshooter-maj.com/html/deploy94.htm
CORONET PLUTO 94 / CENTRAL ENTERPRISE
1 June – 22 June
B-1B: 9th BS / 7th WG
- 86-0103 (arrived 31 May – departed 22 June) arrived from Mildenhall air show
- 84-0057, 85-0072, 86-0112 (arrived 1 June – departed 22 June). Prior to arrival on 1 June they carried out a low level bombing run over the Vliehors range in Holland.
Four B-1s from the 9th BS deployed to RAF Fairford on June 1st 1994 to participate in the NATO exercise Central Enterprise. The B-1 deployment was called Coronet Pluto ’94 and involved more than 250 people from Dyess AFB.
During the exercise work-up phase, the Lancer crews spent time familiarising themselves with ATC procedures in European airspace. Dummy 227 kg bombs were released over the Vliehors range in Holland, and fighter intercepts were experienced over the North Sea. They also took time to work up with their co-penetrators in Central Enterprise, 48th FW F-15Es and 27th FW F-111Fs.
Central Enterprise ran from 13th to 17th June, with the B-1s active every day. During the exercise Hellion was forced to divert to Rhein-Main AB in Germany with a wing sweep malfunction.
Aircraft Illustrated August 1994 report
July: B-52H 60-0052 (5th BW/23rd BS) & B-1B 86-0132 (7th Wg/337th BS) attended the International Air Tattoo (www.scramble.nl)
1995
CORONET CAPRICORN / STRONG RESOLVE
- 4x B-52Hs from 96BS/2BW at Barksdale (arrived 17th Feb – departed 10th March) 60-0017/LA, 60-0020/LA, 60-0032/LA and 60-0049/LA
- 2x EC-130H’s from 43rd ECS Davis-Monthan AFB. 73-1590 arrived 15th Feb from McGuire AFB, 73-1595 arrived 20th Feb from Gander – this aircraft arrived some five days later than planned because of an engine fire three hours out which resulted in its diversion to Gander
- 1x EC-130E 193 SOS Pennsylvania ANG (arrived 26th Feb from Lajes – departed 10th March)
** B-52H 60-0001/LA arrived on the 28th February, bringing in the 2nd BW Commander Brig-Gen Dave Young at the helm from Barksdale, for a visit to the detachment. It departed on the 3rd March**
by Stuart Freer – Touchdown Aviation
SALTY HAMMER / CENTRAL ENTERPRISE
6th – 26th June 1995 the 523FS “Crusaders” from Canon AFB deployed eight F-111F’s to RAF Fairford, arriving as Trend 11-14, 21-24. They participated in Exercise Salty Hammer first week then Central Enterprise
http://www.sharpshooter-maj.com/html/deploy95.htm
https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/search/label/Salty%20Hammer
6th June saw the arrival of four B-52H’s from the 96BS/2BW at Barksdale. Serials: 60-0013, 61-0013, 61-0019, and 61-0024. They also took part in Salty Hammer and Central Enterprise. All four aircraft returned to Barksdale AFB on the 26th June.
July: B-52H 60-0058 (23 BS), B-52H 61-0029 (93 BS), B-1B 86-0094 (37 BS) & B-1B 85-0084 (37 BS) attended the International Air Tattoo (www.scramble.nl)
1996
April 26th saw two visiting B-52H’s 61-0008/BD and 61-0029/BD from the 93BS/AFRes deploy to Fairford, giving the unit experience of ‘bare base’ operations under Exercise Blue Harrier. 61-0029 departed on the 29th and 61-0008 departed on the 30th.
CENTRAL ENTERPRISE
3rd June saw the arrival of 5x B-1Bs (37BS/28BW)
- 85-0092/EL – dep 15th (went to Istres air show and departed on the 17th to the USA)
- 85-0084/EL – dep 14th
- 86-0113/EL – dep 17th
- 86-0093/EL – dep 15th (went to Istres air show and departed on the 17th to the USA)
- 86-0114/EL – dep 14th
4th June saw the arrival of 4x B-52Hs (96BS/2BW)
- 60-0010/LA – dep 20th
- 60-0013/LA – dep 20th
- 60-0016/LA – dep 21st (went to Istres air show on the 14th, returning to Fairford on the 17th)
- 61-0013/LA – dep 21st
The B-52s also took part in Exercise Baltops 96 during the week commencing 17th. The joint B-1B/B-52H deployment was designated the 4611th Expeditionary Group (Provisional)
An additional B-1B 86-0083 arrived on the 10th June and departed back to Ellsworth AFB 14th June.
July: B-52H 60-0017 (2 BW/11 BS), B-52H 60-0035 (2 BW/11 BS), B-1B 86-0111 (28 BW/37 BS) & B-1B 85-0084 (28 BW/37 BS) attended the International Air Tattoo (www.scramble.nl)
1997
CENTRAL ENTERPRISE
Bad to the Bone European Tour T-Shirt
When 10 Air Force B-1Bs were gathered in June at RAF Fairford, UK, it marked the largest deployment of the bombers yet in their relatively young operational life. It represented the first time that aircraft from two B-1 wings had deployed as a single unit. Aircraft and crews from the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, S.D., and the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas, flew to the British base to take part in NATO’s Central Enterprise 1997 during the period June 9–27. While in the UK, the B-1s combined with other NATO units to practice the defence of Central Europe with live-fire exercises.
- 83-0065/DY (7 BW) – arr 28th May – dep 28th June for the Waddington Airshow – leaving Waddington on the 30th June to Dyess AFB
- 86-0123/DY (7 BW) – arr 28th May – dep 30th June
- 85-0072/DY (7 BW) – arr 29th May – dep 30th June
- 86-0140/DY (7 BW) – arr 29th May – dep 30th June
- 86-0103/DY (7 BW) – arr 30th May – dep 30th June
- 86-0094/EL (28 BW) – arr 5th June – dep 30th June
- 85-0087/EL (28 BW) – arr 5th June – dep 23rd June
- 85-0083/EL (28 BW) – arr 5th June – dep 30th June
- 85-0066/EL (28 BW) – arr 5th June – dep 1st July
- 85-0062/DY (7 BW) – arr 6th June – dep 30th June
- 86-0096/EL (28 BW) – arr 18th June – dep (This aircraft replaced another which suffered a lightening strike)
The bombers took part in Exercise ‘Central Enterprsie 97’ during the weeks commencing 9th June and 16th June followed by Exercise ‘Baltops 97’ during the week commencing 23rd June.
The B-1B’s came under the 7th Expeditionary Bomb Group (Provisional) during their stay at Fairford.
July: B-52H 60-0003 (917th Wg/93rd BS), B-52H 61-0029 (917th Wg/93rd BS), B-1B 85-0075 (28th BW/37th), B-1B 85-0064 (184th BW/127th BS) & B-2A 89-0127 (509th BW/393rd BS) attended the Royal International Air Tattoo (www.scramble.nl) First visit by a B-2A to RAF Fairford
1998
CENTRAL ENTERPRISE
On June 9th 1998 six B-1Bs from the 9th BS at Dyess AFB arrived at RAF Fairford to take part in NATO exercise Central Enterprise.
- 83-0065/DY (9 BS) -arr 9th June – dep 29th June
- 84-0058/DY (9 BS) – arr 9th June – dep 26th June
- 86-0123/DY (9 BS) – arr 9th June – dep 26th June for the Waddington air show (departed Waddington 29th June)
- 86-0135/DY (9 BS) – arr 9th June – dep 29th June
- 86-0140/DY (9 BS) – arr 9th June – dep 26th June
- 86-0108/DY (28 BS) – arr 9th June – dep 26th June
On the 11th June four B-52 Stratofortress bombers and 175 reservists from Barksdale deployed to the United Kingdom in June 1998 to take part in a series of NATO exercises.
- 60-0003/BD (917th WG / AFRC) – arr 11th June – dep 26th June
- 61-0008/BD (917th WG / AFRC) – arr 11th June – dep 26th June
- 61-0022/BD (917th WG / AFRC) – arr 11th June – dep 26th June
- 61-0029/BD (917th WG / AFRC) – arr 11th June – dep 26th June
The Air Force Reserve Command contingent from Barksdale consisted of members of the 917th Wing’s 93rd Bomb Squadron, maintenance and support organizations. They operated out of Royal Air Force Fairford, west of London, and began deploying 06 June 1998 and returned by 30 June 1998. In the first exercise, the B-52s took part in Baltic Sea Operations. BALTOPS is a joint maritime operation where B-52s simulated dropping sea mines in conjunction with U.S. Navy and NATO sea forces.
During another NATO exercise, Central Enterprise, the Barksdale reservists practiced integrating B-52 operations with other NATO air forces. Several U.S. units participated in the exercise, including a B-1 Lancer unit from Dyess AFB, Texas, which also launched missions from RAF Fairford. The 7th Expeditionary Operations Group wrapped-up its three-week deployment 25 June 1998 as the NATO exercise Central Enterprise ended. The 7th EOG brought together six Dyess B-1s and their 9th Bomb Squadron crews and four Air Force Reserve B-52Hs from the 93rd Bomb Squadron, based at Barksdale AFB, La.
July: B-52H 61-0017 (93BS/AFRC), B-52H 61-0029 (93BS/AFRC), B-1B 85-0064 (127BS), B-1B 86-0136 (127BS) & B-1B 86-0128 (28BW/37BS) attended the Royal International Air Tattoo (www.scramble.nl)
Fairford was used as an Air bridge for a Special Operations exercise at the end of August / beginning of September
Kosovo
B-52H 2nd Bomb Wing based at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, seen here being flight prepped. This was one of six B-52Hs which had arrived on 11th October (“Havoc 11-16”) as a show of strength against the Serbian Government regarding human rights violations in Kosovo. Serbian forces were withdrawn shortly afterwards
- 60-0032/LA (11 BS) – arr 11th October – dep 5th November
- 61-0006/LA (11 BS) – arr 11th October – dep 5th November
- 60-0043/LA (20 BS) – arr 11th October – dep 5th November
- 61-0010/LA (20 BS) – arr 11th October – dep 5th November
- 60-0010/LA (96 BS) – arr 11th October – dep 5th November
- 60-0059/LA (96 BS) – arr 11th October – dep 5th November
- 61-0023/LA – arr 30th October – dep 5th November
All aircraft were part of the 16th Air Expeditionary Wing
1999
March 10th – First B-2A Global Power Mission to RAF Fairford. It remained on the ground for just over an hour for an engines-running crew-change and to pose for the TV cameras before returning to Whiteman AFB. Flown in both directions by crews from the 393rdBS, the aircraft involved was 82-1067/WM Spirit of Arizona.
July: B-52H 61-0032 (93BS/AFRes), B-52H 60-0051 (23BS), B-52H 60-0041 (93BS/AFRes), B-1B 85-0091 (77BS), B-1B 85-0083 (77BS) & B-2A 82-1069 (393BS) attended the Royal International Air Tattoo (www.scramble.nl)
September – Two B-52H’s arrived for Exercise ‘Northern Light 99’
- 60-0015/MT (5 BW) – arr 13th September – dep 15th September
- 60-0051/MT (5 BW) – arr 13th September – dep 19th September
A five-day US special forces exercise ‘Ellipse Bravo’ commenced on the 24th September with aircraft from the 352 SOG, based at RAF Mildenhall, taking part.