The US Air Force has removed all of its bombers from RAF Fairford following the suspected terrorist incident outside the airbase near Swindon.
A Pentagon official told Sky News on Sunday (4 October) that all US bombers, including B-1s, B-2s and B-52s, have returned to their home stations in the United States.
The withdrawal reportedly involved at least 12 bombers, including several which had only recently arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire as part of a rotation.
According to Sky News, more specific details about a potential threat emerged in the 24 hours before the aircraft were withdrawn.
Some bombers and their crews reportedly left before refuelling arrangements had been completed because of the urgency of the situation.
O.H Aviation Photography captured the last bomber leaving the airbase at the weekend.
The development comes just over a week after five men were arrested near RAF Fairford following reports of three suspicious vans travelling towards the base on Sunday 27 September.
The five British nationals, aged between 23 and 25, were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Explosives Act and later on suspicion of preparation of a terrorist act.
They were subsequently released on police bail following “extensive interviews”.
A sixth man, a British-Iranian national, was arrested on Thursday 1 October on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts and has also since been bailed.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last week that there were “strong indications” Iran played a part in the incident. Iran has denied involvement.
The suspected plot triggered a huge emergency response around RAF Fairford, with armed police, army bomb disposal specialists, fire crews and specialist ambulance teams deployed.
A 400-metre cordon was established around three vans and around 85 households were evacuated while bomb disposal specialists examined the vehicles.
Police later confirmed that petrol was discovered during searches of the vans, but no explosive devices were found.
Wiltshire 999s previously revealed that Hazardous Area Response Teams had been put on standby before the incident after being notified of heightened security at RAF Fairford.
Heavy military vehicles and machinery had also been positioned across unmanned entrances to the airbase in the days before the arrests.
A Pentagon official told Sky News: “US Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world to support global force readiness and operational requirements.
“While operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real-time, we can acknowledge now that all US bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have redeployed to their home stations in the United States.
“The airmen that operate America’s bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s, remain ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities – including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States – anywhere, anytime.”
RAF Fairford is a key forward operating location for US bomber operations in Europe and has played a role in American military operations involving Iran.
The removal of the bombers comes as the counter-terror investigation into the events surrounding RAF Fairford continues.
