A US senator paid a visit to the area last month.

Kevin Cramer, senator for the state of North Dakota since 2019, visited RAF Fairford, which accommodates US military personnel.

The base is home to the headquarters of the 501st Combat Support Wing, an administrative support wing of the United States Air Force, and the 420th Air Base Squadron.

The Republican senator and his team assessed base quality of life on Wednesday, September 4, as well as talking with 501 CSW leadership and UK partners and touring the deployed 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron and the U-2S Dragon Lady.

“RAF Fairford is the preferred bomber forward operating location in Europe for US Air Force Global Strike Command and supports a variety of missions and exercises in which the Minot 5th Bomb Wing and Grand Forks 319th Reconnaissance Wing [in North Dakota] participate,” a spokesperson for Senator Cramer said.

“Senator Cramer visited RAF Fairford to obtain a deeper understanding of the strategic importance of these sites and observe the facilities North Dakota airmen use when deployed in the UK.

“He attended briefings with wing leadership and UK partners and participated in a tour of base facilities.”

“Having a location like RAF Fairford to operate our B-52s and RQ-4s adds to the lethality North Dakota airmen bring to the fight,” said Senator Cramer.

““The strong partnership and friendship between the US and the UK are essential in addressing the challenges we collectively face.

“The global threat freedom faces from the axis of evil to include China, Russia, North Korea, Iran and their proxies is unlike anything anyone alive has seen and demands strong alliances unlike anyone alive has seen.

“The US and the UK are the heartbeat of the Western Alliance and demonstrate a multiplication of force when friends lock arms around shared values like ours.”

The US Air Force base at RAF Fairford recently hosted a heritage day to celebrate its 80th anniversary.