USAF, RAF get British troops home from deployment sooner, rather than later

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  More than 80 British military members from 15 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment touched down here March 15, 2011, on their way home to RAF Honington following a four-month deployment.

Landing here, rather than at a British base such as RAF Brize Norton, near Oxford, cuts several hours off their travel time, allowing them to return to their families that much sooner.

"They've been protecting Kandahar Air Base, in southern Afghanistan, for about four months," said Wing Commander Paul Weaver-Smith, chief of staff of RAF Honington Force Headquarters, who is currently the acting station commander.

"[My troops] have been very successful in ensuring the base remains safe, and enabling airpower to operate from Kandahar during that period," he said. "The most important thing for us is that there were no casualties and no serious injuries during the deployment."

A full RAF Regiment field squadron - about 160 people - was deployed from the nearby base, half of which returned March 15.

"We're delighted that the squadron is returning from a mission well done, and that they're being reunited with their families and loved ones," the wing commander said. "They'll be heading off on some much-needed rest and recuperation, then will be back to work after that, and starting the cycle of training and preparation for [operations] all over again."

Wg Cdr Weaver-Smith said that giving his men and women the opportunity to fly into RAF Mildenhall was absolutely fantastic.

"I was in Afghanistan last year at Camp Bastion with my wing, and I managed to fly half of [my unit] into RAF Brize Norton and half into RAF Mildenhall [on their return]," he said. "The fact that they can land here, and be home just over 20 minutes later, that's absolutely massive for the troops coming home, rather than spending another two to three hours traveling from another air base."

The wing commander said that although there's nothing wong with flying into other bases, the proximity of RAF Mildenhall to RAF Honington makes it a brilliant choice -- especially for families.

"It's been a long four months," he said.  "Those last 'bits' of any deployment tend to be quite frustrating. The fact that we can get them in here - and we've always been well looked after by RAF Mildenhall - is excellent."

Squadron Leader Rick Fryer, RAF Mildenhall station commander, was also on hand to greet the returning troops as they arrived.

"It's a terrific bonus if the aircraft [the 15 RAF Squadron Regiment] return on can land at RAF Mildenhall," he said. "The RAF and U.S. Air Force operate together in Afghanistan, and it's great to see this inter-service cooperation continue at home."

The wing commander from RAF Honington agreed.

"This is a team effort. We're working with the U.S. Air Force on operations, and it's great that you've helped our troops [land here] and get back to their families," he said.