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mahatmakanejeeves

(57,260 posts) Wed Oct 21, 2015, 09:27 AM Oct 2015

Pilot Dies as American F-18 Crashes Near RAF Lakenheath in England

Last edited Thu Oct 22, 2015, 09:05 AM - Edit history (3)

Source: NBC News

by Alexander Smith
News
Oct 21 2015, 9:18 am ET

First Published Oct 21 2015, 6:54 am ET

A pilot was killed when a Marine Corps F-18 fighter jet crashed Wednesday after taking off from a U.S. military base in England, officials told NBC News.

The American plane came down after leaving from RAF Lakenheath, around 70 miles northeast of London, according to Senior Airman Amanda Sampson.

A spokeswoman from Cambridgeshire Police confirmed to NBC News that the pilot was killed. She added that no one else was believed to be on board the aircraft at the time.

The jet came down near in farmland near Ely, which is around 10 miles from the base. RAF Lakenheath is the largest U.S. Air Force-operated base in England.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/f-18-crashes-near-raf-lakenheath-u-s-air-force-n448341

At this time, there is no autoplay video. Thankfully. I avoid linking to sites that have them.

I'm not sure how it happened that a USMC aircraft was taking off from an RAF base that is operated by the USAF. Is this now a joint facility? An example of that is Joint Base Andrews, which used to be Andrews Air Force Base.

How is RAF Lakenheath a facility that is "U.S. Air Force-operated"?

Although an RAF station, it hosts United States Air Force units and personnel.

5 replies

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Highlight:

Pilot Dies as American F-18 Crashes Near RAF Lakenheath in England (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Oct 2015 OP

RIP Marine Pilot James48 Oct 2015 #1

How many UK military bases in the USA? Dems to Win Oct 2015 #2

Lakenheath is a BRITISH base--and we have people and facilities there. The base commander MADem Oct 2015 #3

Rec for visibility. What a shame. MADem Oct 2015 #4

The Marine was one of a group in transit back from fighting ISIL muriel_volestrangler Oct 2015 #5

James48

(4,424 posts)

1. RIP Marine Pilot

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Wed Oct 21, 2015, 10:07 AM

Oct 2015

So sorry to the family for your tragic loss.

Dems to Win

(2,161 posts)

2. How many UK military bases in the USA?

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Wed Oct 21, 2015, 10:41 AM

Oct 2015

The One and ONLY thing I always agreed with Ron Paul about: US needs to close all foreign bases and bring the troops HOME.

MADem

(135,425 posts)

3. Lakenheath is a BRITISH base--and we have people and facilities there. The base commander

Reply to Dems to Win (Reply #2)

Wed Oct 21, 2015, 07:05 PM

Oct 2015

is British.

There are quite a few Brits over this way--I worked with a couple on exchange programs in my day. They also come for training--from advanced technical and operational training, to graduate school/war college and even the academies. As for bases, though, the reason that we base people and assets overseas is so that we have a closer jumping off point in the event of trouble.

What strategic advantage does UK gain by putting a bunch of their military over here? They aren't planning on attacking Canada or Mexico. That's like going FAR AWAY from the action....just to pee on the tree. Makes no sense.

UK knows that our interests are alligned--they give us a bit of room because they know we will HELP THEM OUT if they get in a fix.

MADem

(135,425 posts)

4. Rec for visibility. What a shame.

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Wed Oct 21, 2015, 07:06 PM

Oct 2015

We are a tenant at Lakenheath. We do operate a joint base w/UK at DGAR.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,258 posts)

5. The Marine was one of a group in transit back from fighting ISIL

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Wed Oct 21, 2015, 08:58 PM

Oct 2015

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/us-f18-military-jet-crashes-near-raf-lakenheath-in-suffolk-a6702381.html

US-operated bases in the UK have always been designated 'RAF', and are owned by the British Ministry of Defence. It's probably a lot simpler, legally.

Royal Navy bases, even if they're several miles inland, are always called 'HMS Mercury' or whatever, thought that stands for 'Her Majesty's Ship'.

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