Completing sandiego89’s list, the only other UK bases to support B-36 deployments, albeit briefly, were Sculthorpe and Boscombe Down.

The “Operation UK” deployment to Lakenheath in Jan’51 involved a/c from both the 7th and the 11th Bomb Groups.

Regarding the Greenham Common B-36 – RB-36F 49-2720. This was assigned to the 72nd BW at Ramey AFB, PR. (In Oct’55 SAC redesignated all its RB-36 Reconnaissance Wings to Heavy Bombardment Wings when it changed the primary mission of the RB-36 from Reconnaissance to Bombing.) At the end of July’58 `720`was transferred out of SAC and assigned to the boneyard at Davis Monthan so the date of its visit can’t be September.

As far as I’m aware this was the only visit of a 72nd SRW/BW RB-36 to the UK even though another. 51-5744 was reported visiting St Mawgan during its B of B show in Sept’52. In fact, this was assigned to the 28thSRW at Rapid City/Ellsworth AFB and had flown in from Fairford where it was on a 6 week detachment as part as Project `Roundout`.

Some of the B-36’s which appear in that superb movie `Strategic Air Command` were also seen in the UK. Star of the B-36 segment, 11th BW 51-5734, was part of a combined 7/11BW Post Strike Exercise which saw 16 a/c land at Burtonwood in Oct’56. Also taking part was 11thBW 52-2216. 7thBW 51-5721 was one of the a/c inbound to Fairford on that foggy morning when 51-5719 ran out of fuel and crashed at Lacock. With the fuel situation dire 5721, along with 4 others, managed to divert into Brize after pilots had pleaded with their Command Post to get it opened up! Later, they repositioned to Fairford. According to one of the pilots I spoke to they were lucky to only lose one a/c!

I also remember seeing around 12 C54’s at Upper Heyford around the time they were there. Not sure what they were used for!

Just found this thread. These were the 7th Air Division’s `airline` and all assigned to 3918thCSG/SW at Upper Heyford. They were used primarily to fly Reflex aircrews to/from various cities in Europe where the crews had voted to spend their weeks R&R off alert duty. When not engaged in this they frequently shot missed approaches/touch ‘n go’s at the other SAC bases such as Greenham Common where I noted 9 of them at various times.
Noted over 500 EB/B-47’s on Reflex Action in the UK – great times!

[QUOTE=Project-9699;2212958]I have over 700 ex USAF communicating with me through Facebook, websites and just email, I receive memorabilia packages every week. This is Tom Barr 20th FTW Field Maintenance Mechanic in 1958 the year after I was born, he’s 79 now and coming back in September for a visit. Why? because in his words Wethersfield was his University, he was studying how to live. Wouldn’t it be great if he could sit once again in the cockpit of an F100F 57 years later.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]236366[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]236367[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]236368[/ATTACH][/QUOTE

Possibly sitting in one of these – 56-3833, 844, 852, 872, 876, 882, 888, 893 and 898, all of which were assigned to the 20thTFW in 1958. Of these, 876, 888 and 893 were normally based with the 79thTFS at Woodbridge although occasionally they were also seen at Wethersfield.

While at Wethersfield/Woodbridge the 20th flew a total of 18 F-100F’s.

Bushy Hall (allocated for US use on 24 Nov’52 with US units present 15 Jun’53 onwards.)

6th Chemical Smoke Generator Battalion
Hq 32nd AAA Brigade (with L-17’s)
7726th Augmentation Det, Hq Battery, 32nd AAA Brigade
Det. of 3rd Air Postal Sqdn
32nd Army Band
34th AAA Operating Det.
7726th Army Unit 1
7726th Army Unit 2
Bushy Hall School for US Children
Det.of 7532 Material Sqdn
Det.of 7480 Supply Group
Det.of 7135 School Group
Central High School for US Children
Det.of US Dependent School European Area
Det.of 7500 Air Base Group
European Exchange System

– info from the 3rd Air Force Historical Brief

OK – looks like a flying accident ‘A’ at B’Wood (RT/transient) on 20th July 54. Thus, it looks like (possibly) an accident on transfer from another unit, and it again looks like it wasn’t a 7559th aircraft, merely taken on charge for disposal.

What does the previous line say? Most likely it will show another unit with an ‘LB’ (or similar) loss code.

First reference to this being on 7559’s charge was Jan 6 ’54 – the same date it was recorded as RT (Transient Maintenance) with the 1631ABS at Prestwick. Its possible it suffered a mishap at Prestwick which rendered it beyond economical repair and it took until July’54 for them to authorise salvage. Alternatively, it may have been repaired and operated from Burtonwood with the accident happening later – the records are not clear about this!

What is clear is that prior to this it served with the 60th TCMW at Rhein Main in ’53 but will need to look at this again to determine when it left the unit.

Adding/confirming just a little to this.
I’ve looked at 768’s record cards and they suggest it was indeed a Burtonwood `hack` assigned to the 7559th MAIGP. It was involved in a flying accident somewhere which, according to USAF status codes, required transient maintenance but ultimately the aircraft was authorised for salvage July 20th ’54.
Be very interested to know where this mishap occurred.

cheers,
Graham