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Military
activity at Fairford heightened as the countdown to war began -
and worldwide media attention turned to the US base as the war began
in earnest.
The
US base now has the longest runway in Europe after a major extension
programme completed last year.
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| Protesters
have targeted the air base |
And
as US air crews at the base prepared the 14 massive B-52 Stratofortress
bombers to set off on missions to the Gulf, peace campaigners organised
protests outside the base gates.
Several
bombers took off from the base on Friday morning.
RAF
Fairford is designated by Nato as a forward base for US warplanes,
and was last used by the bombers during the 1991 Gulf War and 1999
Kosovo conflict.
B-52s
were designed to carry out nuclear attacks on the former Soviet
Union, but gained fame for their deadly "carpet-bombing" runs during
the Vietnam war.
Before
the current crisis blew up Fairford was best known as the host of
the world's biggest military air show, the Royal International Air
Tattoo.
Whether
the event will be held at Fairford this summer will depend on how
long the Iraq military campaign lasts.
Click
on the links below for more about Fairford's role in the war from
BBC News.
Thousands
expected at base protest (22-03-03)
Bombers take off from air base (21-03-03)
Greenpeace
balloon targets Fairford (21-03-03)
Armed
police deployed at Fairford (20-03-03)
B52s
prepared for war (19-03-03)
More
arrests at RAF base (18-03-03)
'Greenham
grannies' protest (17-03-03)
Two
US B52s on test runs (15-03-03)
Two remanded
after break-in (14-03-03)
Man
in court over B52 protest (11-03-03)
Stop
and search powers invoked (10-03-03)
Students
join demonstrations
(7-03-03)
Woman peace
protester arrested
(4-03-03)
Bombers
land at RAF Fairford (3-03-03)
Peace camp
moves after eviction threat (28-02-03)
Thirteen
arrested at peace protest (24-02-03)
Anti-war
protesters target US base (17-02-03)
>>Latest
war news from BBC News
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