Breaking: B-1 Lancer deployment to Europe
It came to Scramble's attention that the United States Air Force is planning a Bomber Task Force (BTF) deployment, with four Rockwell B-1B Lancers, to Ørland (Norway) in February 2021.
The date of arrival is not yet clear, but is said to be somewhere late in week 7 or early in week 8.
Ørland Main Air Station (hovedflystasjon) is situated at the mouth of the Trondheimsfjorden in the municipality of Ørland, in Trøndelag county, in the centre of Norway. The air base has a 2,714 metres (8,904 feet) runway, oriented north-west to south-east (15/33) and a ramp with four parking spots for large aircraft.
The air station is the home of 332 skvadron, operating the F-35A Lightning II. Also a detachment of 330 skv with the Sea King Mk43B is based at this air station.
In September 2020, the 345th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, a total force integration unit comprised of Reserve Airmen from the 307th Bomb Wing and the 7th Bomb Wing, flew B-1B Lancers conducting training with the Luftforsvaret (RNoAF, Royal Norwegian Air Force), crossing the North Pole to accomplish the mission.
The unit involved is not known yet. This could be either the 7th Bomb Wing from Dyess AFB (TX) or the 28th Bomb Wing from Ellsworth AFB (SD).
UPDATE: 7th Bomb Wing from Dyess AFB (TX) is reported as the unit involved.
Photo: Joris Termorshuizen (Scramble Archive)