US Air Force personnel will boost local economy
By Sarah Wood | 16th November 2018
The economy of the Cotswolds is set to get a huge boost, when United States Airforce personnel and their families relocate.
Cotswolds MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown welcomed the announcement by the Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood that 530 USAF personnel and 470 dependents will relocate from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk to Fairford over the next five years, to provide support for a new fleet of surveillance planes.
The USAF personnel will provide the support mission for the RC-135 RIVET JOINT aircraft, a dedicated electronic surveillance aircraft that can be employed on strategic and tactical missions.
Sir Geoffrey and Cotswold District Council are supportive of the move, and welcome close working between the local authorities and the Ministry of Defence to ensure the relocation is managed as smoothly as possible.
Sir Geoffrey said: "I am delighted that the Ministry of Defence has made the excellent decision to relocate US personnel to RAF Fairford. The presence of over 1,200 personnel and dependents to the area will bring substantial financial benefits to the local economy and our local community.
"I look forward to welcoming all incoming personnel to the Cotswolds and I hope this represents a continuation of our long-lasting and deep military cooperation with our American allies."
RAF Fairford is a huge asset to the Cotswolds and is currently the USAF's only European airfield for heavy bombers. It also plays host to the annual Royal International Air Tattoo, the world's largest military air show, in July.
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