In a display of commitment to European security and solidarity US Air Force B-52 Stratofortresses overflew all 30 NATO Allies last Friday, 28 August.
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In a display of commitment to European security and solidarity, six US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers overflew all 30 NATO Allies on Friday, 28 August 2020.
Four B-52s deployed to the UK Royal Air Force’s base in Fairford overflew Europe, while two bombers flying from Minot Air Force Base in the United States overflew North America for this long-planned event, named ‘ALLIED SKY’. Along the way, the bombers were escorted by around 80 fighter aircraft from other Allied militaries. Aircraft from 20 other NATO Allies flew alongside the US bombers: Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The training boosted Allies’ ability to respond together to any challenge, helping deter any potential aggression, prevent conflict and preserve peace.
The United States has been flying Bomber Task Force missions in Europe since 2018, racking up over 200 sorties to date. This NATO Multimedia footage – supplied by the US Department of Defense, Belgian Ministry of Defence and Turkish Ministry of National Defence – released this evening, includes shots of B-52 bombers on the ground, in flight, and being escorted by fighters from various Allies:-
- (00:00) Us Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber taking off from Royal Air Force Base Fairford
- (00:06) B-52 cockpit
- (00:21) Belgian Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighter formed up on B-52
- (00:29) Royal Danish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighter
- (00:33) German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon from NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission formed up on B-52
- (00:38) French Air Force Mirage 2000 fighters and German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons formed up on B-52
- (00:48) Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35 Lighting II strike fighters
- (00:58) Norway seen from cruising altitude
- (01:02) Polish Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum breaking left
- (01:08) UK Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons
- (01:19) Belgian Air Force F16’S escort US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber
- (01:45) US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber refuelling from Turkish KC-135 Stratotanker
- (02:04) US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber refuelling from Turkish KC-135 Stratotanker with escort from Turkish F16
- (02:12) US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber with escort from Turkish F16
- (02:39) B-52 On tarmac
