Two-Day period of limited night flying at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall

The 48th Fighter Wing and 100th Air Refueling Wing will conduct a 48-hour readiness exercise from April 23-25 that will include limited flying at night.

During this period, communities in East Anglia and the surrounding regions may see and hear U.S. aircraft taking off, landing and transiting between RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and training ranges over the North Sea several times between sunset and sunrise.

“The men and woman who serve here are always ready to fly, fight and win for our nation, the United Kingdom and our allies,” said Col. Will Marshall, 48th Fighter Wing commander. “To maintain that level of readiness, we have to train for operations in all conditions, and that includes flying at night.

Overland flying will be limited as much as possible between sunset and sunrise. Exercises like this provide both aircrew and support personnel stationed at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall the experience needed to maintain a ready force capable of ensuring the collective defense of the NATO alliance.

“This exercise is incredibly important to our collective ability to respond to contingencies in the African and European theaters,” said Col. Christopher Amrhein, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander. “We are very thankful for the support we receive from the communities surrounding the bases, because without that support, we would be unable to train to maximum effect and assert ourselves as strategically forward-based assets in the U.K.”

The exercise does not include plans for low-altitude flying in East Anglia or the surrounding regions during established quiet hours. All training will be conducted in accordance with Ministry of Defence and U.K. airspace regulations.

“We know it’s unusual for our neighbors in East Anglia to hear our aircraft flying throughout the night, and we will continue to minimize the impact of our training program however possible,” Marshall said. “On behalf of our fighter wing, I’d like to thank everyone for their understanding and patience during this short period of important training.”

Please contact the MOD at SWK-lowflying@mod.gov.uk with any aircraft-related flying concerns.


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