25 March 2003

Prisoners of War in Court

20 March 2003

Legendary group enhances defense at Fairford

19 March 2003

Peace Activists Remanded after Attempting to Disarm a B-52 Bomber at RAF Fairford

15 March 2003

Stealth Bomber Story Quashed

14 March 2003

Trident Ploughshares Peace activists remanded for £50,000 criminal damage to bomber support vehicles at RAF Fairford will plead 'Lawful Excuse'

9 March 2002

12 arrested after protest at B-52 base

6 March 2003

RAF Fairford sees increases in people, mail

5 March 2003

RAF Fairford gets 'BUFF'

4 March 2003

More B-52 bombers arrive at British air base
CAAB protest at US B-52's arrival at USAF Fairford
B52 Peace Watch at Fairford

3 March 2003

Ant-war Protests at USAF Fairford
US bombers arrive in UK

1 March 2003

Fairford will be base for US B52 bombers

27 February 2002

RAF Fairford pulses with equipment, airmen

23 February 2003

10 Arrested at Fairford Peace Protest

26th January 2003

Demonstration at Fairford

14th December 2002

Report on Demonstration at Fairford Airfoce Base

4th November 2002

Fairford gains responsibility of RAF Welford

22 May 2002 - AIRBASE IS REOPENED IN STYLE

American servicemen stationed at Fairford describe it as the best kept secret in the air force and were keen to celebrate the base's £60 million revamp.Fairford's 10,000ft runway has been relaid, along with taxiways, and further work has been carried out upgrading and building additional fuel storage and distribution sites.

More than 400,000 cubic metres of concrete and 43,000 tonnes of asphalt paving were used in the three-year project. And, although the runway was back in operation last summer, dignitaries, officers and members of the local community turned out in force to mark the airfield being granted its Declaration of Airfield Readiness.

RAF Air Vice-Marshal Andy Burton said: "RAF Fairford has a history which symbolises the close relationship between the UK and the US. I am pleased to be able to say it is once again ready to play its part in the maintenance of global security."Fairford, which has one of the longest military runways in the UK, was used extensively during the Gulf War and Kosovan crisis.

Such is its importance that 95 per cent of the revamp project was funded by Nato.Although aircraft are never permanently deployed at the facility, the famous B-2 Stealth bomber, B-52s and KC-135s are among those that have been based there.

It was originally built as an RAF base in the Second World War, but the USAF has used Fairford since the Cold War years.

It is now home to the 424th Air Base Squadron, as well as the world's biggest military airshow, the Royal International Air Tattoo and is loved by servicemen and locals alike.Fairford's USAF Logistics Flight Commander Captain Tim Davis said: "The best kept secret in the air force is RAF Fairford. Before I was assigned here I didn't know about it."The area is beautiful. We have a great relationship with the local community and send a lot of volunteers out to a lot of events.

"His views were echoed by the Mayor of Fairford, Quentin Tailford (Ind), who says the base and events such as RIAT provide a massive boost to the local economy.He said: "It's nice to know who your friends are. We have a strong bond with the USAF and RAF and there is interaction between the two communities."

It shows very strongly at the local school where you get American and British children studying together. We are chuffed the base is back up and running again."

At yesterday's ceremony a B-1 bomber provided the backdrop through the hangar's open doors. A KC-135, VC-10 and two F-15 fighters paid their own aerial tribute as the watching crowds whooped and cheered in true Top Gun style.

Saturday 20 July 2002

Lindis Percy went to the Fairford Air Tattoo having first contacted Stroud Peace Group to enquire if they would be demonstrating at the presence of the Stealth fighter and bomber - the 'star' attractions of the show. 

She protested alone in front of the Stealth fighter by climbing over the barrier and under the next rope barrier before showing the US flag with INDEPENDENCE FROM AMERICAN written on it. CAAB  now uses the US flag upside down - it is a sign of distress in international flag terms.

Lindis did not climb over the last barrier surrounding the Stealth fighter after seeing a notice that said 'deadly force is authorised'. 

Lindis was eventually arrested after demonstrating again when the Stealth bomber flew past - again she used the US flag.  She was taken to Stroud police station and eventually charged under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 s.69 (aggravated trespass).  It seemed that this had again come from 'higher authority'.

Bail was denied and she was detained in police custody on Saturday and Sunday nights at Stroud police station before appearing in court at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on Monday morning.  Lindis was released with bail conditions 'not to go to RAF Fairford' (Fairford is an American base).

The next court date is on 19 August 2002 - however she will ask for this date to be adjourned as she is in Harrogate Magistrates' Court on that day.

13th July 2001 - Fairford runway reopens after more than a year

by 1st Lt. Carie A. Seydel
Air Force Print News

ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, England -- A ceremonial ribbon cutting and the landing of a B-1B Lancer and a KC-135 Stratotanker here marked the completion of the first section of a $120 million NATO-funded airfield restoration project recently.Gen. John Jumper, commander of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, Va., got project plans under way in 1998 when he was commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.Construction on the three-section airfield redevelopment here started in May 2000 when the runway was closed to air traffic.

Mission requirements and annual exercises have been relocated or postponed until the entire project is complete. The completed first section includes the 1.6-mile main runway, northern taxiway and associated ground lighting and drainage. After more than a year without an operational runway and despite a wet winter season, the project was completed on schedule June 15.The location was designated a deployment operating base by NATO. During the Kosovo crisis, bombers staging from here dropped 48 percent of the bombs, said Lt. Col. Jan Rosko, 424th Air Base Squadron commander here.

Although a runway was built here in the early 1950s it was deteriorated and in need of structural upgrades, said Lt. Col. Martin Lewis, USAFE regional engineer. "This investment in Fairford is a NATO commitment to the future security of Europe," Lewis said. The second section is under way and includes jet fuel storage tank installation, southwest taxiways and aircraft hardstands. It is expected to be complete in September. The third section, with similar additions in the southeast area of the field, is expected to open in April. When the project is complete the base will have almost double the sortie launch capability, which accommodates up to 30 bombers, and an increase of on-base fuel storage from about 165,000 to 830,000 cubic feet. The 2-foot-thick, 200-foot-wide concrete and asphalt runway will accommodate any aircraft in the inventory including emergency space shuttle landing, project officials said. The Air Force has identified three locations for B-2 deployment, RAF Fairford in the U.K.; Andersen AFB, Guam, and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. At Fairford, he said, "we plan on erecting one shelter. ... We're either going to modify an existing hangar or we might have to build two new hangars there. That's still being worked."