B52 bombers wait for a U2 spy plane before departing Europe ✈️

Watch four B-52 strategic bombers launch from RAF Fairford in England, after a deployment to the US European Command area of military operations. Two of the B-52s had to wait for a U2 spy plane to take off first.

The B-52 Stratofortress have been in service since 1952, while the U-2 Dragon Lady went into service in 1956. Both are still flying in 2024, approximately 70 years later. The U2 however is set to be retired by 2026, with drones taking their place. The B52 on the other-hand is expected to still be in service by 2050.

The latest varient, the B-52H, went into service in 1961. All the bombers shown in this video are from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota. The U-2S went into service in 1989 and the one shown here is from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beele Air Force Base in California, all though is routinely based at RAF Fairford.

The B52s were deployed to Europe on Bomber Task Force 24-3 and participated in Exercise Baltic Ops with regular flights to the Baltic Sea. Several missions to the Red Sea and the Middle East also took place during the deployment.

Read more: https://www.stratcom.mil/Media/News/N...

Articles about the 5th Bomb Wing & Minot AFB on DVIDS: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/5BW-PA

See a playlist of videos from Bomber Task Force deployments to Europe here:    • Bomber Task Force in Europe  

Recorded: June 18th - 20th, 2024
---------------------------------------------------
Outroduction Music: Watch it Glow - Silent Partner    • Watch it Glow – Silent Partner (No Co...  
---------------------------------------------------
Ⓒ CobraEmergency