Britain hosts US bombers in war build-up

A FLEET of US B-52 bombers landed at Britain’s Fairford Royal Air Force base yesterday as Washington moved the aircraft that would play an early role in any war on Iraq closer to their targets.

To the fury of peace protesters and the delight of plane spotters, the huge grey jets roared low over the perimeter fence before opening parachutes on the runway the longest in Europe to help them rumble to a halt.

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told parliament he had agreed to a US request for 14 B-52 bombers to fly to RAF Fairford in the western county of Gloucestershire from the United States, with their extra support personnel.