US Air Force History At RAF Mildenhall

Royal Airbase, Mildenhall has a storied history dating back to 1920. It was a major airbase involved in the bombing of Germany, US surveillance operations to its current mission with the US Air Force as a strategic base, housing refueling aircraft.
RAF Mildenhall opens for business
British military planners viewed Mildenhall as a site for military air operations as far back as the late 1920s. In their assessment, an airbase at Mildenhall would serve as an important defense node, focused on a perceived “continental threat”.
The British government purchased the land in 1929 and construction began in 1930, and work was completed the first buildings in 1931. By 1934, RAF Mildenhall officially opened with King George V personally dedicating the base on October 19, 1934.
Throughout WWII, Mildenhall served as an important bomber base for Royal Air Force for operations against Germany. Operations from RAF Mildenhall by the US Air Force didn’t reach full operational capacity until the early years of the Cold War.
The mission of the KC-97s was to serve as the refueling platform of the B-47 Stratojet.
The USAF, RAF Mildenhall and the Cold War years
Following hot on the coattails of WWII’s conclusion were the long and fearful years of the Cold War. The US Cold War strategy was global, and it centered on containing and thwarting the expansion of Soviet Russia and its influence.
Surveilling the “Red Menace”
Playing into this strategy was RAF Mildenhall. This airbase hosted the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SRW). The 55th SRW was tasked with strategic reconnaissance, charting photography, electronic geodic mapping and electronic reconnaissance missions. These missions would have been very important over East Germany and the surrounding areas.
The 55th SRW utilized its RB-29s for photographic reconnaissance, its B-50s for missions that involved mapping, charting geodetic surveys and electronic reconnaissance.
Related 80 Years On: How The US B-29 Superfortress Helped End WWII Arriving late in the war, the B-29 delivered the coup de grâce against Japan exactly 80 years ago.
Ready to Strike
Another important aspect of the USAFs strategy within England was the use of KC-97 tankers of the 306th Air Refueling Squadron from the 306th Wing. This unit was deployed to RAF Mildenhall in June 1953.
Photo: US National Archives
The first visit of an SR-71 to RAF Mildenhall occurred in September 1974…
The mission of the KC-97s was to serve as the refueling platform of the B-47 Stratojet. This aircraft was a centerpiece of US nuclear deterrence strategy (during the early Cold War), stationed at RAF Fairford. With its 3,935-mile range, the B-47 could launch nuclear strikes into Russia and return to England.
Photo: US National Archives
By October 1957, Strategic Air Command saw that one-third of its bomber force and tankers were on continual high alert. This meant that the designated bombers were loaded and all the crews were on alert, and ready to takeoff within 15 minutes.
Det 4
The first visit of an SR-71 to RAF Mildenhall occurred in September 1974, and this would not be the last. However, prior to gaining permanent basing arrangements, any SR-71 sortie being flown out of England would require official permission, and any SR-71 could stay no longer than 20 days per mission.
Photo: US National Archives | Technical Sergeant Jose Lopez
By April 1976, Detachment 4 (Det 4) was officially established, giving the US Air Force a base of operations for two assigned SR-71s. The SR-71s stationed at Mildenhall had two primary tracks. The shorter of the two would take a course along the Inner German Border (which separated East from West Germany) and the Czech border, from north to south and vice versa.
The 100th ARW is the only US tanker wing that is assigned to Europe and Africa, tasked with refueling US and partner nation aircraft…
The longer route would take a mission along the North Cape of Norway in order to surveil and image Soviet naval installations in the Murmansk and Severomorsk areas. During this mission, the primary sensor for such missions was the High Resolution Radar. The mission of the USAF SR-71s came to an end on January 18, 1990. The presence of SR-71s came to symbolize RAF Mildenhall in the public eye.
The 100th Aerial Refueling Wing
The 100th Aerial Refueling Wing (ARW) was activated and began operations at RAF Mildenhall on February 1, 1992. By September 1998, the 100th ARW reached its full complement of 15, KC-135s.
The 100th ARW is the only permanent refueling wing in the European theater of operations.
Photo: US National Archives
Highlighting its strategic nature, the 100th ARW is the only US tanker wing that is assigned to Europe and Africa , tasked with refueling US and partner nation aircraft over the span of approximately 20 million square miles.
Specifications for the KC-135 Stratotanker
General Specifications Related Data Primary Function Aerial refueling and airlift Prime Contractor The Boeing Company Power Plant CFM International CFM-56 turbofan engines Thrust 21,634 pounds each engine Wingspan 130 feet, 10 inches (39.88 meters) Length 136 feet, 3 inches (41.53 meters) Height 41 feet, 8 inches (12.7 meters) Speed 530 miles per hour at 30,000 feet (9,114 meters) Ceiling 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) Range 1,500 miles (2,419 kilometers) with 150,000 pounds (68,039 kilograms) of transfer fuel; ferry mission, up to 11,015 miles (17,766 kilometers) Maximum Takeoff Weight 322,500 pounds (146,285 kilograms) Maximum Transfer Fuel Load 200,000 pounds (90,719 kilograms) Maximum Cargo Capability 83,000 pounds (37,648 kilograms), 37 passengers Pallet Positions 6 Crew Three: Pilot, Co-pilot and boom operator. Some missions require the addition of a navigator. Aeromedical Evacuation Crew A basic crew of five (two flight nurses and three medical technicians) is added for aeromedical evacuation missions. Unit Cost $39.6 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars) Date First Deployed August 1956 Inventory Active duty, 153; Air National Guard, 171; Air Force Reserve, 72.
The 100th ARW has performed over 545 missions and provided over 16 million pounds of fuel to over 1,600 aircraft…
The Bloody 100th
The 100th ARW is known as the Bloody 100th because the unit originated within the Eighth Air Force as the 100th Bombardment Group (BG), which was activated on June 1, 1942.
Photo: National Archives
As denoted by its nickname, the 100th BG suffered severe losses on its missions over Germany. The 100th BG lost 184 aircrew over the course of 306 missions; 100th BG copilot John Clark stated that the group suffered 50% of its losses over the course of just 3% of its missions.
Photo: National Archives
The 100th ARW today
The 100th ARW has performed over 545 missions and provided over 16 million pounds of fuel to over 1,600 aircraft in the skies over Europe, Africa and the Atlantic Ocean since the start of fiscal year 2020.
Photo: USAF | Senior Airman Viviam Chiu
In addition to performing aerial refueling, the crews of the 100th ARW fly thousands of miles day or night in order to perform aeromedical evacuations. These missions transfer injured or sick personnel to higher echelon care facilities.
Photo: USAF | Senior Airman Christopher Campbell
Notable combat missions that the 100th ARW supported
Operation Noble Anvil (1999)
Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014)
Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003–2011)
Operation Juniper Shield (2007)
Operation Odyssey Dawn (2011)
Operation Unified Protector (2011)
Operation Juniper Micron (2013)
Operation Jukebox Lotus (2014)
The importance of the 100th Aerial Refueling Wing
As a refueling wing, the 100th ARW enables the USAFs ability to have a truly global reach. This capability furthers crucial intelligence , surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), strategic lift and combat missions.
Photo: USAF | Senior Airman Christopher Campbell
With the war in Ukraine and Houthi terrorist actions in the Gulf of Aden, the capabilities of the 100th ARW are in great need. These capabilities will further operational support to support for ISR operations around Ukraine and possible combat operations against the Houthis.
With global great power competition heating up and contingency operations a continual necessity, the 100th ARW will be very busy for the foreseeable future.