Mildenhall – WB57

If it wasn’t a C141, then it was probably a C5 or C17, The KC135s tend to come right over my house if they are on an extended circuit, but I saw a high, swept wing aircraft passing just North of me (Warboys, 4 miles from RAF Wyton), which I presumed to be a C141, but am willing to be corrected!!

What struck me when visiting the ‘hall was the lack of aircraft compared to 20-25 years ago when I was taken up there regularly. Obviously there are less fighters/bombers to refuel in Europe now, and there is not the Logistics requirement there was during the cold war. There used to be stacks of KC135s C130s and C141s with the occasional Galaxy, it all seems a bit empty now….

You are right there, i remember as a kid going to Mildenhall on a sunday afternoon and would always see something take off or land. Even lucky enough to see one of the SR-71s take off sometimes. The last month or two has seen some interesting movements but still not how it used to be.

Thanks Flood, Great thread (from before I bacame a forumite!)
I must go there at some point…
Back in 1980 (when I was 11!) we did a family holiday to Florida, as well as seeing all the usual sites, we spent a few days around the back of Miami International, Fort Lauderdale, and a couple of smaller airports looking for Propliners (Mainly drug running impoundees!)
At Fort Lauderdale we were picked up by the sheriff and taken for questioning, when he found out that we had come all the way from ‘Engerland’ just to have a look at ‘his’ airport he got his secretary to type a letter of introduction and gave us complete freedom to go on the ramp and photograph the aircraft!
From my Memory we saw a lot of L749/1049s C46s and Convair 440s.
We also did a day trip to Bimini & Nassau by Mallard as well, oh and Disney world was OK, what a Holiday!

Apparently just 20 C141Cs with the reserves at Wright Patterson left…And they are due to go next year.

Flood

Occasionally get one in & out of AF Plant 42, saw one about 3 weeks ago.

If it wasn’t a C141, then it was probably a C5 or C17, The KC135s tend to come right over my house if they are on an extended circuit, but I saw a high, swept wing aircraft passing just North of me (Warboys, 4 miles from RAF Wyton), which I presumed to be a C141, but am willing to be corrected!!

What struck me when visiting the ‘hall was the lack of aircraft compared to 20-25 years ago when I was taken up there regularly. Obviously there are less fighters/bombers to refuel in Europe now, and there is not the Logistics requirement there was during the cold war. There used to be stacks of KC135s C130s and C141s with the occasional Galaxy, it all seems a bit empty now….

Last saw a C141 in January…
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=37610

Flood

Sorry Wessex boy i don’t think you have seen any C-141’s lately, Did you mean C-130’s.

If it wasn’t a C141, then it was probably a C5 or C17, The KC135s tend to come right over my house if they are on an extended circuit, but I saw a high, swept wing aircraft passing just North of me (Warboys, 4 miles from RAF Wyton), which I presumed to be a C141, but am willing to be corrected!!

What struck me when visiting the ‘hall was the lack of aircraft compared to 20-25 years ago when I was taken up there regularly. Obviously there are less fighters/bombers to refuel in Europe now, and there is not the Logistics requirement there was during the cold war. There used to be stacks of KC135s C130s and C141s with the occasional Galaxy, it all seems a bit empty now….

There have, as far as I know, not been any C-141’s in the Hall of late. There have however been a large number of C-5’s and C-130’s passing through

Mainly going to be flying stateside though so the chance of seeing any over here is remote.

Apparently just 20 C141Cs with the reserves at Wright Patterson left…And they are due to go next year.

Flood

Rare sight now, haven’t seen any for a while now.

They (C141) are fewer and further between than they used to be, but I have seen a couple over the last month headed for the Hall

Moggy

Sorry Wessex boy i don’t think you have seen any C-141’s lately, Did you mean C-130’s.

No vertical climbs, they all departed out to the east initially, great spectacle nonetheless.
Of course I have seen no end of KC135s and C141s over my house in the following few days, which means that Mildenhall must be busy……

A good day out was had, Mildenhall was dead, we saw one movement in and out (both KC135s). You can’t get to Mickey’s tea bar any longer, it is all barricaded off with grunts and HumVees in the way, it used to be opposite the old main gate. I introduced my son to the delights of Little Chef instead….

LH was better, 2 ship went off at 13:30 on the spot, as predicted, and returned 20 mins later, one doing a missed approach and circuit.
Then nothing…..I just decided to give it 10 more minutes then I started to hear noise…lots of it, then 16 Eagles taxied out!
They obviously have an external check done at the holding point which takes a few minutes (never seen that before?), and then they went out 2 x 6 ship and then a 4 ship departure.
Unfortunately son then got tired so I had to leave before they all returned….

Did they all do the vertical climb at the end of the runway.
Never knew about Mickeys, but can anyone remember the amazing model/American comic shop in Mildenhall. I presume that the American comics found their way in from the US personel, I used to have difficulty in dragging my son away from there, have still got a load of Marvel comics in polythene bags, this has inspired me to dig them out for the next generation of young Truman appreciators.The model shop had a fantastic collection of transfers, I used to spend hours going through them all. They also had a link with the control tower at Mildenhall which was constantly being broadcast in the shop. One evening we were going through the transfers when the tower anounced that F-117’s were about to take off from Lakenheath, the first time they had been deployed outside the US, fortunately I had my camcorder with me and we shot over there to witness 3 off them being launched. I recall a van load of builders arriving and being very jealous that I was videoing the event.
Memorable moment was an F-117 flying across the sunset to the strains of the Stars and Stripes being played over the Lakenheath PA.
Must have been about 12 years ago.
What happened to the shop.

Having seen some of the final approaches I wouldn’t want them armed at all!!!!!

Glad your day worked out well.
Where hey stop is the arming pad. Final checks and arming is carried out prior to departure.

Thanks, Yes I wondered if it was something to do with arming, they probably want the least amount of time armed whilst they are on the ground….

Glad your day worked out well.
Where hey stop is the arming pad. Final checks and arming is carried out prior to departure.

Back in the late ’70s, early ’80s Mickey’s was my first contact with an authentic American diner, most of the other clientelle were in uniform, and there were pictures of blackbirds, U2s, etc all around the walls. They took Dollars as their primary currency, which was very novel at my age then!

Been trying to think where Mickeys was i remember now from when i have worked on the Base.

A good day out was had, Mildenhall was dead, we saw one movement in and out (both KC135s). You can’t get to Mickey’s tea bar any longer, it is all barricaded off with grunts and HumVees in the way, it used to be opposite the old main gate. I introduced my son to the delights of Little Chef instead….

LH was better, 2 ship went off at 13:30 on the spot, as predicted, and returned 20 mins later, one doing a missed approach and circuit.
Then nothing…..I just decided to give it 10 more minutes then I started to hear noise…lots of it, then 16 Eagles taxied out!
They obviously have an external check done at the holding point which takes a few minutes (never seen that before?), and then they went out 2 x 6 ship and then a 4 ship departure.
Unfortunately son then got tired so I had to leave before they all returned….

Not knowing ‘Mickeys’ can I just point out that visitors to Lakenhall wanting something very tasty for lunch without paying a fortune could do a lot worse than to visit the Filipina. Centre of Lakenheath.

It is a Phillipinian restaurant started by a trio of servicemens wives a couple of years back.

Quick, cheap and tasty (The food, that is)

Moggy