UNITED KINGDOM — U.S. European Command said on October 4 that the bombers deployed to RAF Fairford were redeploying to their home stations, and a U.S. Air Force statement the same day said every U.S. bomber that had been deployed there had redeployed to home stations in the United States.
The Air Force statement said operational security had precluded confirmation of the movement in real time. It also said U.S. Air Force bombers routinely operate around the world for readiness and operational requirements.
The acknowledgment came seven days after the September 27 arrests. The command did not say the investigation was the reason for the departure. No U.S. or British official statement had reported casualties, an explosion, or damage to aircraft from that investigation by October 5.