RAF Mildenhall (MHZ)

RAF Mildenhall operates as a strategic Royal Air Force station primarily supporting United States Air Force operations, serving as the home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing (100 ARW) and hosting units from four major USAF commands including Air Combat Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Mobility Command, and United States Air Forces in Europe. The facility has functioned as a critical military transportation hub since the Military Air Transport Service established its main UK passenger terminal here on March 1, 1959. The military passenger terminal infrastructure is designed exclusively for authorized military personnel, government officials, and their dependents, featuring specialized processing areas managed by military transport squadrons. The facility includes dedicated military airlift and aerial refueling support capabilities, with the terminal equipped to handle various military aircraft operations including KC-135R/T Stratotankers, MC-130J Commando II aircraft, RC-135V/W Rivet Joint intelligence aircraft, and CV-22 Ospreys for special operations missions. Operational capabilities encompass serving as a major logistics hub facilitating the movement and supply of personnel and equipment across the European theater, with the base regularly hosting transient and visiting aircraft including C-130 variants and C-17 Globemasters essential for military cargo and troop transport operations. The terminal processes both rotational force deployments and strategic airlift operations supporting NATO and allied military activities throughout Europe. Security infrastructure reflects the base's strategic importance as the only permanent USAF air refueling wing in the European theater, with access strictly controlled through military authorization protocols. The facility coordinates closely with RAF Lakenheath to form the largest US Air Force presence in the United Kingdom, ensuring comprehensive terminal security measures and restricted access protocols are maintained at all times.