On 21st November 2003, the North East of England was treated to an event, not seen for a quarter of a century, and which for many of us will be a once in a lifetime event. Air Force 1 touching down at a North Eastern regional airport. US President George W Bush came to town.

but the fun started nearly a week before, when the MH53s and VH60s arrived.  The two C17s that brought in the VH60s were 60004 contained 163260, and the second, 891191 contained 163262, both C17s from the 437th AW Charleston AFB (hi guys!).  On the morning of the 16th, a USN C130T, 165161 bringing stuff in declared an emergency nearly over my house, about five miles out from the threshold, with a flap extension problem. The pilot pulled up and diverted to Mildenhall, where after a flapless landing and application of a size 10 hammer, the errant piece of kit was sorted and the Herc with Cargo returned.

It has to be remembered that this was only part 2 of a state visit, so lots of bits and bobs were floating about 'dahn sarf', most notably 2 venerable VH3Ds 159354 & 159357, and a couple of GWB's bigger toys, such as the VC32 99-0003.

Two VC-25s 82-8000 and 92-9000 were used, SAM 28000 arrived just after 1100 am, and AF1 utilising 29000 came in at almost exactly 1130L.  Support was provided by 4 MH-53E Sea Stallions from HC4 at Sigonella.  Many C17 movements came and went, delivering, and subsequently removing the various trappings of a state visit, cars and other aircraft - the 2 VH-60 VIP Blackhawk helicopters.

The MH-53s of HC-4 did plan to leave on Saturday 22nd, but weather according to one of the pilots weather conditions down south gave course for concern and sufficient doubt as to whether they could make Mildenhall, so the prepared to stay the extra night.  Minor tech niggles, with failed heaters on 2 of the machines, plus a sick engine on '44' aided the decision. The ground crews wanted to spend a bit more time working on the heaters, as it meant otherwise a cold ride for them down the back.  On Sunday 23rd me and a few diehards turned out in the raw 1°C frost.  However, things didn't go quite according to plan.  

Rather than re-write it, I'll quote here, the email I sent out recounting the problems that beset the team as a whole trying to get off on the Sunday.  You need to remember that Thanksgiving was fast approaching, and the crews wanted to be back in Italy with their families - quite understandably. 

"The CH53s are all still present, despite getting as far as ready to lift at about 1200. 

44 is tech with an engine problem and will not fly today (or probably tomorrow). They think that a spare engine will be en route possibly by C130. The heater situation I referred to yesterday is still present, so the ground crews in 50 will have a cold ride home.

Getting the iced over helos thoroughly warmed through in preparation for the flight has caused a few problems. They were stood on the ramp, rotors running for nearly 30 mins, waiting to get airborne, all aboard, chocks out. 

Then, 47 calls in. they had cut the snap ties off the circuit breakers and activated the electric demisters to clear the screens of frost, which are only to be used when its really, really, really cold. Well, this morning it was only really cold, and it has overheated and cracked one of the windscreens, so a new one is required. That's gonna have to be brought up as well, although I did volunteer to drive to Mildenhall and collect it !

At the same time, 00 seems to be suffering as a few of the ground bods are now looking concerned and the portable fire extinguisher is stood at the ready....  then, 50 calls in one of the pilots has dropped his survival torch from his vest in the cockpit and they cant find it. obviously this is a danger for getting wedged in the controls so one by one they shut down and re-chock.

It seems possible that 00 and 50 will leave today, their thoughts not mine, but 47 wont leave until the screen is fixed, and 44 until the engine is sorted."

Well, it just goes to show you, even with good intel from one of the crews, things change, and all three Helos left mid-afternoon on the Sunday, arriving at Mildenhall just after 5pm. They were later reported passing Bournemouth on Monday, so they should easily have been back at Home in time for the celebrations. The USN Herc returned with a replacement engine, and the remaining crews worked on it and 44 finally left on Mon 28th.

I had intended to have these and more up and viewable many weeks ago, however work, Christmas and other things got in the way, and apologies to those who have mailed me and who I promised they would be done quickly.  There are more to come, as I have now finally got my last roll of film back.

AF1 burns rubber onto rwy 23 at Teesside.

RAF C130 C1P XV209 rests on the ramp following the departure of its younger stable mate C4 ZH872

C17 960004 swallowing one of the 2 VH60s the day after. 

MH53E Sea Stallion 162516/00 of HC4.

Also, apologies to those who have been trying unsuccessfully to view the images - a sticky finger

problem caused the links to the files to get crossed during transfer to the fileserver, which hopefully

I've now corrected, but please, if this is not the case I'd be grateful for a quick heads up.