DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 ✓
Sun, 22 Mar 2026 07:24:38 UTC
Bomber Mission XXVIII & XXIX #FreeIran
--- Operation EPIC FURY ---
Yesterday (21st March 2026) the US bomber fleet at RAF Fairford (EGVA) attempted to launch 2 bombing missions of 2x B-1B "Lancer" bombers to Iran, however only 3 of the 4 jets ended up flying. Full details below:
Mission XXVIII
B-1B "MELON52" 86-0108 #AE6BF0 "Aliens with Attitude"
B-1B "MELON53" ? (Did not launch)
KC-135T "TIMEX25" 59-1470 #AE04C3 (From RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135T "TIMEX26" 59-1464 #AE0659 (From RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135R "TIMEX27" 63-8878 #AE05B1 (Aborted after takeoff, replaced by 25 - from RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135R "TIMEX28" 61-0315 #AE0237 (From RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135 (x2 or x3) "TIMEX??" ? (Launch location not identified)
Mission XXIX
B-1B "SANE42" 86-0129 #AE6C02 "The Black Widow"
B-1B" SANE43" 86-0139 #AE6C0A "Drifter"
KC-135 (x3) "TIME…
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@shin_persian
@DefenceGeekSun, 22 Mar 2026 07:24:38 UTC
Bomber Mission XXVIII & XXIX #FreeIran
--- Operation EPIC FURY ---
Yesterday (21st March 2026) the US bomber fleet at RAF Fairford (EGVA) attempted to launch 2 bombing missions of 2x B-1B "Lancer" bombers to Iran, however only 3 of the 4 jets ended up flying. Full details below:
Mission XXVIII
B-1B "MELON52" 86-0108 #AE6BF0 "Aliens with Attitude"
B-1B "MELON53" ? (Did not launch)
KC-135T "TIMEX25" 59-1470 #AE04C3 (From RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135T "TIMEX26" 59-1464 #AE0659 (From RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135R "TIMEX27" 63-8878 #AE05B1 (Aborted after takeoff, replaced by 25 - from RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135R "TIMEX28" 61-0315 #AE0237 (From RAF Mildenhall)
KC-135 (x2 or x3) "TIMEX??" ? (Launch location not identified)
Mission XXIX
B-1B "SANE42" 86-0129 #AE6C02 "The Black Widow"
B-1B" SANE43" 86-0139 #AE6C0A "Drifter"
KC-135 (x3) "TIME…
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@shin_persian
ترجمه فارسی در بخش نظرات
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DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 ✓
Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:57:46 UTC
Bomber Missions 45 & 46 - Utter confusion! #FreeIran
--- Operation EPIC FURY ---
Due in part I suspect to clocks changing to BST in the UK, and the fact that folks were rather keen to go see A-10s arrive in the UK and F-22s depart, I've had various and confusing reports regarding B-1 launches from RAF Fairford (EGVA) yesterday. A pair of B-1s did depart at around 0900 BST as SPHINX flt and supposedly a second pair departed an hour later as BIGGS flt. While the bombers for SPHINX flt were identified, I've yet to find anyone who can ID the BIGGS flt jets - and a lot of spotters seem to think SPHINX flt was actually BIGGS flt.
To confuse further, it's unclear if one of these 2-4 bombers then had an issue during the mission and asked to divert into Sigonella, or if the previous day's returning bombers "RAGGY" flt are the ones that have reportedly been denied landing at Sigonella in Italy (news which was officially confirmed this morning).
In short, the locals tells me that there were definately 2 separate departures, but beyond that I've struggled to piece together anything else concrete - so good job the B-2s on Mission 47 were en-route at the same time eh!
CONFIRMED:
B-1B "SPHINX17" 86-0121 #AE6BFB "Symphony of Destruction"
B-1B "SPHINX18" 86-0129 #AE6C02 "Black Widow"
KC-135T "BLUE61" 58-0095 #AE04FD (From EGUN)
KC-135R "BLUE62" 59-1475 #AE04C4 (From EGUN)
KC-135R "BLUE63" 62-3540 #AE0669 (From EGUN)
Unable to definitively confirm further
If you are local to RAF Fairford and have any further information to help us, please reach out to myself or the MATA via DMs!!
@MATA_osint @ArmchairAdml @Andyyyyrrrr @AUX_OSINT @Saint1Mil @vcdgf555 @steffanwatkins
🔗 Tweet
@shin_persian
@DefenceGeekTue, 31 Mar 2026 15:57:46 UTC
Bomber Missions 45 & 46 - Utter confusion! #FreeIran
--- Operation EPIC FURY ---
Due in part I suspect to clocks changing to BST in the UK, and the fact that folks were rather keen to go see A-10s arrive in the UK and F-22s depart, I've had various and confusing reports regarding B-1 launches from RAF Fairford (EGVA) yesterday. A pair of B-1s did depart at around 0900 BST as SPHINX flt and supposedly a second pair departed an hour later as BIGGS flt. While the bombers for SPHINX flt were identified, I've yet to find anyone who can ID the BIGGS flt jets - and a lot of spotters seem to think SPHINX flt was actually BIGGS flt.
To confuse further, it's unclear if one of these 2-4 bombers then had an issue during the mission and asked to divert into Sigonella, or if the previous day's returning bombers "RAGGY" flt are the ones that have reportedly been denied landing at Sigonella in Italy (news which was officially confirmed this morning).
In short, the locals tells me that there were definately 2 separate departures, but beyond that I've struggled to piece together anything else concrete - so good job the B-2s on Mission 47 were en-route at the same time eh!
CONFIRMED:
B-1B "SPHINX17" 86-0121 #AE6BFB "Symphony of Destruction"
B-1B "SPHINX18" 86-0129 #AE6C02 "Black Widow"
KC-135T "BLUE61" 58-0095 #AE04FD (From EGUN)
KC-135R "BLUE62" 59-1475 #AE04C4 (From EGUN)
KC-135R "BLUE63" 62-3540 #AE0669 (From EGUN)
Unable to definitively confirm further
If you are local to RAF Fairford and have any further information to help us, please reach out to myself or the MATA via DMs!!
@MATA_osint @ArmchairAdml @Andyyyyrrrr @AUX_OSINT @Saint1Mil @vcdgf555 @steffanwatkins
🔗 Tweet
@shin_persian
ترجمه خودکار فارسی:
مأموریتهای بمبافکن ۴۵ و ۴۶ - سردرگمی مطلق! #FreeIran
--- عملیات EPIC FURY ---
گمان میکنم بخشی به دلیل تغییر ساعت به وقت تابستانی بریتانیا (BST) و این واقعیت که مردم مشتاق تماشای ورود A-10ها به بریتانیا و خروج F-22ها بودند، گزارشهای مختلف و گیجکنندهای در مورد برخاستن بمبافکنهای B-1 از پایگاه نیروی هوایی سلطنتی فایرفورد (EGVA) در روز گذشته دریافت کردهام. یک جفت B-1 در حدود ساعت ۰۹:۰۰ به وقت تابستانی بریتانیا [۰۸:۰۰ زولو (۱۱:۳۰ به وقت تهران)] با کد پروازی SPHINX برخاستند و ظاهراً جفت دوم یک ساعت بعد با کد پروازی BIGGS خارج شدند. در حالی که جتهای پرواز SPHINX شناسایی شدهاند، هنوز کسی را پیدا نکردهام که بتواند جتهای پرواز BIGGS را شناسایی کند - و به نظر میرسد بسیاری از ناظران فکر میکنند پرواز SPHINX در واقع همان BIGGS بوده است.
برای سردرگمی بیشتر، مشخص نیست که آیا یکی از این ۲ تا ۴ بمبافکن در طول مأموریت دچار نقص فنی شده و درخواست فرود اضطراری در سیگونلا را داده است، یا اینکه بمبافکنهای بازگشتی روز قبل با کد پروازی "RAGGY" همانهایی هستند که طبق گزارشها اجازه فرود در سیگونلا در ایتالیا به آنها داده نشده است (خبری که امروز صبح رسماً تأیید شد).
خلاصه اینکه، محلیها به من میگویند که قطعاً ۲ پرواز جداگانه انجام شده است، اما فراتر از آن برای جمعبندی هر چیز ملموس دیگری با مشکل مواجه شدهام - پس چه خوب که B-2ها در مأموریت ۴۷ همزمان در مسیر بودند، مگه نه!
تأیید شده:
B-1B "SPHINX17" 86-0121 #AE6BFB "Symphony of Destruction"
B-1B "SPHINX18" 86-0129 #AE6C02 "Black Widow"
KC-135T "BLUE61" 58-0095 #AE04FD (از EGUN)
KC-135R "BLUE62" 59-1475 #AE04C4 (از EGUN)
KC-135R "BLUE63" 62-3540 #AE0669 (از EGUN)
عدم توانایی در تأیید قطعی موارد بیشتر
اگر در نزدیکی پایگاه هوایی فایرفورد (RAF Fairford) هستید و اطلاعات بیشتری برای کمک به ما دارید، لطفاً از طریق پیام مستقیم (DM) با من یا MATA (تحلیلگران نظارت هوایی نظامی) تماس بگیرید!!
@MATA_osint @ArmchairAdml @Andyyyyrrrr @AUX_OSINT @Saint1Mil @vcdgf555 @steffanwatkins_
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