Team Mildenhall honors Battle of Britain, celebrates Air Force birthday

U.S. Air Force Col. Troy Pananon, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, gives opening remarks at the Air Force “Birthday Bash” event at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, Sept. 18, 2020. Events also included a color run and flyover with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and RAF’s Red Arrows. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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Team Mildenhall honors Battle of Britain, celebrates Air Force birthday

A cake celebrating the 73rd birthday of the U.S. Air Force is set for display at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, Sept. 18, 2020. The cutting of a cake using a sword is a military tradition, usually performed at the Air Force Ball by both the 100th Air Refueling Wing commander and the youngest Airman in attendance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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Team Mildenhall honors Battle of Britain, celebrates Air Force birthday

U.S. Air Force Col. Troy Pananon, left, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, and Airman Basic Shaleigh Shorts, 100th Comptroller Squadron financial analyst technician, the youngest Team Mildenhall Airman, carry out the tradition of using a sword to cut a cake celebrating the 73rd birthday of the U.S. Air Force at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, Sept. 18, 2020. Events also included a color run and flyover with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and RAF’s Red Arrows. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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Team Mildenhall honors Battle of Britain, celebrates Air Force birthday

A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing conducts a flyby at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, Sept. 18, 2020. The RAF Aerobatic Team, Supermarine Spitfires, Hawker Hurricanes and U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles, MC-130J Commando IIs and CV-22B Ospreys also took part in the event celebrating the Air Force's 73rd birthday and commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joseph Barron)

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Team Mildenhall honors Battle of Britain, celebrates Air Force birthday

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team flies over RAF Mildenhall, England, Sept. 18, 2020. RAF and U.S. Air Force aircraft conducted a flyover in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and in celebration of the 73rd birthday of the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joseph Barron)

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Team Mildenhall honors Battle of Britain, celebrates Air Force birthday

Two Royal Air Force Supermarine Spitfires and two RAF Hawker Hurricanes conduct a flyover at RAF Mildenhall, England, Sept. 18, 2020. The flyover was conducted in celebration of the Air Force's 73rd birthday and in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joseph Barron)

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Team Mildenhall honors Battle of Britain, celebrates Air Force birthday

Three Royal Air Force Supermarine Spitfire aircraft and a Hawker Hurricane aircraft fly in formation as part of the U.S. Air Force's 73rd birthday and 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain over RAF Mildenhall, England, Sept. 18, 2020. The celebration included the participation of F-15C Eagles, a CV-22B Osprey, MC-130J Commando II, KC-135 Stratotanker and the RAF Aerobatic Team. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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Team Mildenhall honors Battle of Britain, celebrates Air Force birthday

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, known as the Red Arrows, performs a flyover as part of the U.S. Air Force's 73rd birthday and 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain at RAF Mildenhall, England, Sept. 18, 2020. Team Mildenhall hosted a food truck rally and piano burn to honor these anniversaries. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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Team Mildenhall honors Battle of Britain, celebrates Air Force birthday

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, known as the Red Arrows, performs a fly over as part of the U.S. Air Force's 73rd birthday and 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain at RAF Mildenhall, England, Sept. 18, 2020. The celebration included the participation of U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles, a CV-22B Osprey, MC-130J Commando II, KC-135 Stratotanker and RAF Supermarine Spitfires and a Hawker Hurricane. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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Team Mildenhall honors Battle of Britain, celebrates Air Force birthday

From left to right, U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kathi Glascock, 100th Air Refueling Wing command chief, Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Paul Graham, RAF Mildenhall commander, Col. Van Thai, 100th Operations Group commander, Staff Sgt. Dajuantaye Brown, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron lead firefighter, and Col. Troy Pananon, 100th ARW commander, gather for a piano burn at RAF Mildenhall, England, Sept. 18, 2020. The piano burn is a RAF tradition and this year’s commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Busby)

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Team Mildenhall honors Battle of Britain, celebrates Air Force birthday

A piano is burned to commemorate the lives lost during the Battle of Britain at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, Sept. 18, 2020. This was one of several events held throughout the day to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David Busby)

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Team Mildenhall honors Battle of Britain, celebrates Air Force birthday

Published Sept. 23, 2020
By Air Force Airman 1st Class Joseph Barron
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

RAF Mildenhall, England --

Team Mildenhall commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and celebrated the Air Force's 73rd birthday at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, Sept. 18, 2020.

The day's events included a piano burning and flyover by the RAF Aerobatic Team, heritage aircraft and U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, MC-130J Commando II and CV-22B Osprey.