RAF Mildenhall

RAF Mildenhall is a major Royal Air Force station located near the town of Mildenhall, Suffolk in East Anglia, England. Since the early 1950s, it has been operated as a host base by the United States Air Force (USAF) and serves as a crucial hub for air refueling and special operations missions across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The base is home to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, part of the Third Air Force under United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA).

History

The station was constructed in the early 1930s as part of the Royal Air Force's expansion program, opening in 1934 as a home for bomber aircraft. During the Second World War, it was used by RAF Bomber Command squadrons flying aircraft like the Short Stirling and Avro Lancaster, participating in major offensives such as the Battle of the Ruhr and the Berlin Air Raids. In 1950, the base was transferred to the United States Air Force under a NATO agreement, becoming a cornerstone of American airpower in Europe during the Cold War. It initially hosted Strategic Air Command (SAC) Boeing B-47 Stratojet and later Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers on alert duty, a role that continued through the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Based units

The primary resident unit is the 100th Air Refueling Wing (100 ARW), which operates the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. The wing's history traces back to the famed 100th Bombardment Group of the Eighth Air Force during the Second World War. Also based at the station is the 352nd Special Operations Wing (352 SOW), which flies the CV-22B Osprey and conducts specialized missions for United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Other significant tenant organizations include the 501st Combat Support Wing for base support functions and detachments from the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Band.

Role and operations

RAF Mildenhall functions as the main air refueling hub for USAFE-AFAFRICA, providing critical tanker support to United States Air Force, Royal Air Force, and other NATO aircraft across multiple theaters. The KC-135 Stratotanker fleet enables global reach for operations ranging from Inherent Resolve in the Middle East to reassurance missions in Eastern Europe. The 352nd Special Operations Wing executes low-visibility, precision special operations using the tiltrotor CV-22B Osprey, often in coordination with allied special forces like the British Special Air Service. The base also supports strategic airlift through its partnership with nearby RAF Lakenheath and handles frequent visits from aircraft like the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.

Infrastructure

The airfield features a single, long runway capable of handling the largest military transport and bomber aircraft. Its extensive infrastructure includes hardened aircraft shelters, large fuel storage facilities connected to a GPSS pipeline system, and modern maintenance hangars for the KC-135 fleet. The base hosts significant community facilities such as the Sculthorpe housing area, a hospital, schools, and recreational centers, forming a substantial American enclave within the British countryside. Its location in East Anglia provides strategic proximity to other key installations like RAF Menwith Hill and RAF Croughton.

Future and closure

In 2015, the United States Department of Defense announced plans to consolidate forces as part of the European Infrastructure Consolidation (EIC) program, which included the scheduled closure of RAF Mildenhall. The 100th Air Refueling Wing and its assets are planned to relocate to RAF Lakenheath, while the 352nd Special Operations Wing is slated to move to Germany. The decision, influenced by strategic reassessments and cost-saving measures following operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, has been coordinated with the British government under existing Status of Forces Agreement terms. As of the current date, the base remains operational, with its future timeline subject to ongoing bilateral negotiations between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Category:Royal Air Force stations in Suffolk Category:United States Air Force bases in the United Kingdom Category:Military installations established in 1934