Photo By Senior Airman Josiah Brown | A British-American Committee member climbs into the cockpit of a B-1B Lancer at RAF...... read more read more
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Twenty-two members of the British-American Committee, native to the Gloucestershire area, received a tour last week of the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron deployed to RAF Fairford in support of the Bomber Task Force Europe mission series.
“The British-American Committee works to cement the positive relationships that have been firmly established between the base and local community,” said Jennifer Collyer, United Kingdom Ministry of Defence community relations adviser. “BAC members are volunteers who create opportunities for American personnel to enjoy wider social contacts in the community, thereby promoting friendship, understanding and mutual support between American military and civilian personnel and the British people among whom they live and work.”
The BAC was able to catch a landing and takeoff before they were given a tour of the B-1B Lancer accompanied by a series of capability briefings given by 9th EBS aircraft maintainers.
“I have had the chance to take some photos of the B-1 takeoffs and landings since the B-1’s arrival but not nearly as many as I would like,” said Byron Martin, BAC member and local aviation photographer. “It is an enormous opportunity to be able to come out here and get a closer look at the jet and to be able to get some insight into the Airmen’s daily working life.”
Martin said that the size of the aircraft was the second most memorable part of the day for him.
“The general professionalism of the U.S. visiting forces, the way everyone speaks and the way that they have all interacted with the local community are incredibly impressive,” said Martin.
The 9th EBS and Collyer planned the tour to thank the BAC members who give up a portion of their time maintaining and enhancing the relationship between military personnel and residents of the surrounding community.
“The local community has been incredibly welcoming and supportive of us and other units that have operated out of RAF Fairford,” said Capt. Stephen Carey, 9th EBS pilot. “We wanted to do our part in returning that same level of support in a way we thought everyone would enjoy.”
The 9th EBS was able to give back to the community hosting the B-1 deployment of nearly 200 Airmen, Collyer continued.
“The tour made a significant contribution towards the BAC goal of promoting friendship, understanding and mutual support between the base and local community,” said Collyer. “It enabled BAC members to better understand the strategic importance of the U.S. bomber mission temporarily at RAF Fairford and how this mission fits into the larger military picture.”
| Date Taken: | 10.14.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.18.2021 13:33 |
| Story ID: | 407465 |
| Location: | RAF FAIRFORD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, GB |
| Web Views: | 318 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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