Rolling Thunder

Fifty two motorcyclists take part in the Rolling Thunder motorcycle ride Sept. 16 between RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath. The riders also visited the war memorial in Mildenhall High Town, where Squadron Leader Rick Fryer, RAF Station commander, laid a wreath. The ride was in observance of POW/MIA Remembrance Week. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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Rolling Thunder

Senior Master Sgt. Mark Bradsher, 100th Operations Support Squadron, holds a wreath as Col. Scott Brumbaugh, 100th Air Refueling Wing vice commander, talks to motorcycle riders Sept. 16 at the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Memorial. The Rolling Thunder motorcycle ride was part of a week of events to remember and honor those who were prisoners of war or missing in action. (U.S. Air Force photos by Karen Abeyasekere)

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Rolling Thunder

Staff Sgt. Jonathon Richichi, 48th Communications Squadron, is lead motorcyclist Sept. 16 as he carries the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag on his bike while leading 51 other motocycles along the perimeter road on RAF Mildenhall as they head off base. After laying a wreath on base, the motorcyclists headed to Mildenhall High Town, where Squadron Leader Rick Fryer, RAF Station Commander, laid a wreath at the British war memorial. The bikers then headed to RAF Lakenheath and laid another wreath at Memorial Park. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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Rolling Thunder

Squadron Leader Rick Fryer, RAF Station Commander, and motorcyclists from RAFs Mildenhall and Lakenheath salute after a wreath was laid at the British war memorial in Mildenhall. As part of Prisoner of War/Missing in Action week, the motorcyclists presented wreaths which were laid at RAF Mildenhall, Mildenhall High Town, and RAF Lakenheath. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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Rolling Thunder

Motorcyclists gather at Memorial Park on RAF Lakenheath and bow their heads as the base chaplain reads a prayer in honor of prisoners of war and those missing in action, as part of POW/MIA Week. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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Rolling Thunder

A wreath was laid at Memorial Park at RAF Lakenheath by the 'Lest we Forget' wall. Rolling Thunder was a motorcycle ride made up of 52 riders, both military and civilian, from RAFs Mildenhall and Lakenheath, and was part of a week of events to remember those fallen, prisoners of war and missing in action. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)

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‘Rolling Thunder’ motorcyclists visit bases, local community to pay respects

Published Sept. 19, 2008
By Karen Abeyasekere
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Fifty-two motorcyclists roared into Mildenhall High Town and pulled up at the war memorial Sept. 16 to pay respects to servicemembers who were prisoners of war or missing in action.

The "Rolling Thunder" motorcycle ride started at RAF Mildenhall BXtra where the riders met before heading to the POW/MIA Memorial.

As part of the events for POW/MIA Week, bikers rode on a wide range of different motorcycles, including cruisers, sport and dual-purpose bikes. Riders were both military and civilian, from RAFs Mildenhall and Lakenheath.

Three wreaths were laid along the ride; the first at RAF Mildenhall by Col. Scott Brumbaugh, 100th Air Refueling Wing vice commander; the second in Mildenhall High Town at the war memorial by Squadron Leader Rick Fryer, RAF Station Commander, and the third at RAF Lakenheath's Memorial Park by Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Joseph Dowling, 48th Fighter Wing chaplain.

Staff Sgt. Jonathon Richichi, 48th Communications Squadron, rode the lead bike and carried the POW/MIA flag. The motorcycle ride was organized by Senior Master Sgt. Mark Bradsher, 100th Operations Support Squadron, Master Sgt. Robert Welle, 48th Component Maintenance Squadron, and Sergeant Richichi.