--- title: "Air Force pulls bombers from RAF Fairford" description: "The decision to pull bombers from the British base comes a week after several people were arrested on suspicion of plotting terrorist action." date: "2026-10-04" modified: "2026-10-04" authors: - name: "Nicholas Slayton" job_title: "Contributing Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/nicholas-slayton.md" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-removes-bombers-raf-fairford/" categories: - "Air Force" - "Around the World" - "Europe" - "Military Branches" - "News" tags: - "adsafety" --- # Air Force pulls bombers from RAF Fairford ![Featured Art: FAIRFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 4: A Rockwell B1 Lancer heavy bomber takes off from runway 27 to depart for home at RAF Fairford on October 04, 2026 in Fairford, United Kingdom. Around a dozen US B-1B Lancer bombers remain stationed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, following a significant military drawdown late last month that saw six B-52 Stratofortress bombers return across the Atlantic. The heavy aircraft are part of an American forward strike force that has used the Gloucestershire airfield to conduct missions against Iranian capabilities, with total aircraft numbers at the Gloucestershire hub previously peaking between 21 and 23 strategic bombers earlier this year. (Photo by David Bown/Getty Images) ]() *A B-1 Lancer bomber takes off from RAF Fairford on Oct. 4, 2026. Photo by David Bown via Getty Images.* The Air Force pulled all of its bombers deployed to RAF Fairford, sending them back to the United States a week after several people were [arrested]() outside the British air base on suspicion of plotting terrorist actions. A defense official confirmed to Task & Purpose that Air Force bombers, including B-1s, B-2s and B-52s have all left the base. In a statement the official said that while “operational security precluded us from confirming the movement of our assets and forces in real-time, we can acknowledge now that all U.S. bombers that were deployed to RAF Fairford have re-deployed to their home stations in the United States.” “The airmen that operate America’s bomber force, including B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s, remain ready to deliver precision global strike capabilities — including through operations that launch and recover from the continental United States — anywhere, anytime,” the statement continued. The [Wall Street Journal]() first reported on the bombers’ movement. The official did not give a specific reason for the movement of the bombers, but it comes days after five people were arrested last weekend over suspicion of plotting a terrorist action near the base. The men were detained in the early hours of Sept. 27 after three vans were seen driving towards the base. British authorities set up a large security cordon around the base and a nearby village, with explosive ordnance teams brought in as well. A sixth individual, a British-Iranian dual national, was later [arrested]() as well. All six have been released on bail. British counterterrorism police are continuing to investigate the incident, although the exact nature of the events remains unclear. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in the following days that there were "strong indications" that Iran was involved, which Tehran has denied. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also [said]() the incident at RAF Fairford "involves the hands of a foreign actor." RAF Fairford, located in Gloucestershire southwest of London, has been heavily utilized by the Air Force in support of the Iran war. B-52 Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer bombers have staged at the base before heading to the Middle East on missions. The RAF also stages aircraft including fighter jets at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall. ## Author Nicholas Slayton is a contributing editor for Task & Purpose, covering conflict for over 12 years, from the Arab Spring to the war in Ukraine. His previous reporting can be found on the non-profit Aslan Media, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, The New Republic, The American Prospect, Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, and the Los Angeles Downtown News. You can reach him at nicholas@taskandpurpose.com or find him on Twitter @NSlayton and Bluesky at @nslayton.bsky.social. ### Author social links [Twitter]()