Royal Air Force aircraft and personnel have been integrating with United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress Bombers from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron as part of their 2022 Bomber Task Force mission.
British Typhoons and Lightning F-35B’s from RAF Coningsby and RAF Marham have operated on multiple sorties allowing the RAF to learn more about working with the B-52 and also giving the United States Air Force vital training opportunities flying alongside near-peer capabilities
"The RAF has been one of our closest allies for the last 100 years, we are here to learn how to fight with them, learn their capabilities and them to learn ours so that if we get into a near-peer war then we are better prepared."
Lieutenant Colonel Ayers
Commander of the 69th Bomb Squadron
This level of interoperability has continued throughout the deployment as multiple nations have flown together and alongside the aptly named ‘BUFFS’ most notably as part of the NATO led Exercise COLD RESPONSE.
BUFFS have launched on multiple missions supporting Exercise COLD RESPONSE which has included working with the Royal Navy’s carriers the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, along with 617 Squadron F-35B’s and the various personnel that make up the 30,000 troops that have deployed across 27 separate nations in what has become the largest Arctic exercise for 30 years.
"I love your Winston Churchill quote that says the only thing worse than fighting your allies, is fighting without them. The concept there is that different countries, nations and cultures have different ways of doing things and saying things. That can cause friction, but the more we work together now and iron out those kinks, the more capable we will be going forward.
Lieutenant Colonel Ayers
Commander of the 69th Bomb Squadron
While the aircraft, crew and support staff are a long way from their home of Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, this has not affected the 69th’s battle rhythm. There are a few differences flying in British or European airspace for the BUFFS, though these differences are quickly identified, the crews evolve and learn from them and come out flying with greater capability in the European Theatre.
Deployments like the Bomber Task Force also expose RAF Air Traffic Controllers to working with the B-52’s as they depart RAF Fairford and when they return to base, with the aircraft transiting through RAF Brize Norton’s airspace. Joint Terminal Attack Controllers from the RAF Regiment have also liaised with the B-52’s while working the Donna Nook and Tain ranges here in the UK. Finally, the United States Air Force Europe and 69th’s PAO’s have also had the chance to work with RAF Media Officers from RAF High Wycombe and RAF Photographers from JADTEU ensuring that the close-partnership between the RAF and United States Air Force is well documented as both parties learn about how each other’s respective media command and control works in an environment such as this.
