Bomber Task Force (BTF) – Europe
It’s reported here that BTF missions were conducted from 2018
2018 ?
2019 (BTF 19-?)
RAF Fairford – 6x B-52H – 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron?
- 61-0013/LA (2 BW / 20 BS) – arr 14/03/19 – dep 05/04/19
- 60-0024 (2 BW / 20 BS) – arr 14/03/19 – dep 06/04/19
- 60-0025/LA (2 BW / 20 BS) – arr 14/03/19 – dep 05/04/19
- 60-0058/LA (2 BW / 20 BS) – arr 15/03/19 – dep 06/04/19
- 60-0032/LA (2 BW / 96 BS) – arr 16/03/19 – dep 05/04/19
- 61-0015/LA ((2 BW / 96 BS) – arr 16/03/19 – dep 06/04/19
2019 (BTF ??-?)
RAF Fairford – 3x B-2A – 393th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
- 82-1068/WM (509 BW / 13 BS) – arr 27/08/19 – dep 19/09/19
- 89-0129/WM (509 BW / 13 BS) – arr 27/08/19 – dep 19/09/19
- 82-1071/WM (509 BW / 13 BS) – arr 27/08/19 – dep 19/09/19
2019 (BTF 20-1)
RAF Fairford – 4x B-52H – 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
- 61-0006/LA (96 BS / 2 BW) – arr 10/10/19 – dep 10/11/19
- 60-0024 (20 BS / 2 BW) – arr 10/10/19 – dep 12/11/19
- 60-0025/LA (20 BS / 2 BW) – arr 10/10/19 – dep 10/11/19
- 60-0028/LA (96 BS / 2 BW) – arr 10/10/19 – dep 10/11/19
2020 (BTF 20-2)
RAF Fairford – 3x B-2A – 110th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
- 82-1068 (509 BW) – arr 12/03/20 – dep 20/03/20
- 88-0332 (509 BW) – arr 12/03/20 – dep 20/03/20
- 82-1070 (509 BW) – arr 12/03/20 – dep 20/03/20
2020 (BTF 20-4)
RAF Fairford – 6x B-52H – 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
- 60-0005/MT (23 BS) – arr 22/08/20 – dep 26/09/20
- 60-0007/MT (23 BS) – arr 22/08/20 – dep 26/09/20
- 60-0029/MT (23 BS) – arr 22/08/20 – dep 28/09/20
- 60-0044/MT (23 BS) – arr 22/08 /20- dep 26/09/20
- 60-0056/MT (23 BS) – arr 22/08/20 – dep 26/09/20
- 61-0034/MT (23 BS) – arr 22/08/20 – dep 26/09/20
2021 (BTF 21-1?)
Ørland Air Force Station, Norway – 4x B-1B – 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron – Arrived 21st / 22nd February 2021? – Departed March 23rd?
- 85-0073/DY (7 BW) – arr ? – dep ?
- 86-0105/DY (7 BW) – arr ?- dep ?
- 86-0117/DY (7 BW) – arr ?- dep ?
- 86-0132/DY (7 BW) – arr ? – dep ?
2021 (BTF ??-?)
Lajes, Portugal – 3x B-2A – 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
- 82-1067 (509 BW) – arr 16/03/21 – dep ?
- 88-0328 (509 BW) – arr 16/03/21 – dep ?
- 89-0129 (509 BW) – arr 16/03/21 – dep ?
2021 (BTF 21-3)
Morón Air Base, Spain – 4x B-52H – ?? Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
- 61-0012 (2 BW) – arr 17/05/21 – dep ?
- 61-0015 (2 BW) – arr 17/05/21 – dep ?
- 60-0013 (2 BW) – arr 17/05/21 – dep ?
- 61-0010 (2 BW) – arr 17/05/21 – dep ?
These patches were made for 23rd Bomb Squadron, although they were never deployed to Morón. According to Key Publishing ‘Boeing B-52H Stratofortress’ magazine – The squadron had been preparing to deploy to Morón Air Base in Spain before US Central Command diverted the detachment to Qatar.
2021 (BTF ??-?)
Keflavik, Iceland – 3x B-2A – 110th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
- Serial ? – arr 24/08/21 – dep ?
- Serial ? – arr 24/08/21 – dep ?
- Serial ? – arr 24/08/21 – dep ?
2021 (BTF 22-1)
RAF Fairford – 4x B-1B – 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
- 86-0110 (9 BS) – arr 06/10/21 – dep 14/11/21
- 86-0140 (9 BS) – arr 06/10/21 – dep 15/11/21
- 86-0103 (9 BS) – arr 07/10/21 – dep 15/11/21
- 86-0136 (28 BS) – arr 07/10/21 – dep 14/11/21
2022 (BTF 22-2)
RAF Fairford – 4x B-52H – 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
- 60-0044 (5 BW / 69 BS) – arr 10/02/22 – dep 15/04/22
- 61-0003 (5 BW / 69 BS) – arr 10/02/22 – dep 15/04/22
- 61-0018 (5 BW / 69 BS) – arr 10/02/22 – dep 19/04/22
- 61-0039 (5 BW / 69 BS) – arr 10/02 /22 – dep 15/04/22
2022 (BTF 22-3)
RAF Fairford – 4x B-52H – 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
- 60-0005 (5 BW / 23 BS) – arr 18/08/22 – dep 21/09/22
- 60-0023 (5 BW / 23 BS) – arr 18/08/22 – dep 21/09/22
- 60-0034 (5 BW / 23 BS) – arr 18/08/22 – dep 21/09/22
- 60-0026 (5 BW / 23 BS) – arr 18/08/22 – dep 21/09/22
2023 (BTF 23-2)
Morón Air Base, Spain – 4x B-52H – 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
60-0034 (5 BW / 23 BS ) – arr 24/02/23 – dep 24/03/23
60-0056 (5BW / 23 BS ) – arr 24/02/23 – dep 24/03/23
60-0026 (5BW / 23 BS ) – arr 24/02/23 – dep 24/03/23
60-0060 (5BW / 23 BS) – arr 24/02/23 – dep 24/03/23
There is a patch produced for BTF 23-1, but unsure whether this is a mistake or the USAF changed the BTF designator after the patch was produced?
2023 (BTF 23-3)
RAF Fairford – 4x B-1B – 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron & 345th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
86-0103 (7 BW / 9 BS) – arr 23/05/23 – dep 27/06/23
86-0105 (7 BW / 28 BS) – arr 23/05/23 – dep 27/06/23
85-0064 (7 BW / 9 BS) – arr 25/05/23 – dep 26/06/23
86-0125 (7 BW / 9 BS) – arr 25/05/23 – dep 26/06/23
19th June marked the first time a B-1B had landed in Sweden, with 2 aircrafts deployed for 4 days
The 9th EBS are wearing the deployment crest patches from BTF 22-1 and the 345th EBS have this Union Jack variation to their 2018 Fairford deployment patch
2023 (BTF 23-4)
Keflavik, Iceland – 3x B-2A – 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
- 82-1070 – arr 13/08/23 – dep ?
- 90-0040 – arr 13/08/23 – dep ?
- 88-0331 – arr 13/08/23 – dep ?
August 29th marked the first time a B-2 landed in Norway, with 2 aircrafts hot pit refueling at Ørland Air Base
2023 (BTF 24-1)
RAF Fairford – 4x B-1B – 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
86-0107 (7 BW / 28 BS) – arr 12/10/23 – dep 15/11/23
86-0119 (7 BW / 28 BS) – arr 12/10/23 – dep 04/12/23
86-0124 (7 BW / 9 BS ) – arr 14/10/23 – dep 10/11/23
86-0103 (7 BW / 9 BS ) – arr 14/10/23 – dep 10/11/23
2024 (BTF 24-2)
Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden – 2x B-1B – 28th Bomb Wing
86-0129 (28 BW) – arr 23/02/24 – dep 29/02/24
86-0137 (28 BW / 37 BS) – arr 23/02/24 – dep 29/02/24
2024 (BTF 24-2)
Morón Air Base, Spain – 4x B-1B – 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
85-0061 (7 BW) – arr 24/03/2024 – dep
86-0124 (7 BW) – arr 24/03/2024 – dep
86-0117 (7 BW) – arr 26/03/2024 – dep
86-0125 (7 BW) – arr 26/03/2024 – dep
This deployment is stated as being ‘the next phase of Bomber Task Force 24-2’, suggesting the February deployment to Sweden was the first phase
If you are able to fill in any gaps or have any of my wants for sale please contact me at darren@raf-fairford.co.uk