“In June 2014, five U.S. Air Force heavy bombers arrived at Royal Air Force (RAF) station Fairford in the United Kingdom for a two-week training mission. The two B-2 Spirit and three B-52 Stratofortress long-range, multirole bombers deployed to Europe to train and integrate with U.S. and allied forces in the region. The deployment was coordinated with U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and NATO and relied on the U.S.’s close, long-standing relationship with the UK and its Armed Forces.

While in the European theater, the Stratofortresses also took part in commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, in honor of the bomber crews who helped set the stage for the successful amphibious landing. The B-52s are part of the U.S. Eighth Air Force, which traces its history to World War II, when it lost more than 26,000 airmen in combat operations helping to secure Allied victory in Europe...”

Excerpt from per Concordiam Staff, “Committed Defense,” per Concordiam: Journal of European Security Defense Issues  5, No. 3, 2014: 54-55.

This article reflects the views of the author and are not necessarily the official policy of the United States, Germany, or any other governments.