A very interesting flight just landed at Kirtland AFB, NM direct from Europe.
The 4 digit RCH call sign indicates a high priority mission. This flight was carried out by 2 separate USAF C-17s operating under the same call sign.
Lets explore this flight together.
1/11
On 4/6 USAF C-17 AE4F12 as RCH4614 arrived at Kirtland AFB, NM and parked on Pad 5, which is used for the loading/unloading of live munitions.
2/11
Kirtland AFB, NM hosts several weapons, including B61 nuclear gravity bombs.
3/11
kirtland.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-…
On 4/9, USAF C-17 AE4F12 as RCH4614 departed Kirtland for Kleine Brogel AB, Belgium. It refueled with a KC-135 as FLAM## along the way, indicating it possibly had a hazardous cargo on board and arrived at Kleine on the 10th.
4/11
Kleine AB is home to the 701st Munitions Support Squadron whose primary mission is handling B61 nuclear weapons.
5/11
twz.com/40008/air-forc…
Also on 4/10, USAF C-17 AE1239 as RCH192 departed from Ramstein AB, Germany and arrived at Kleine.
6/11
On 4/11 USAF C-17 AE4F12 departed Kleine as RCH192 for Ramstein.
7/11
Also on 4/11 USAF C-17 AE1239 as RCH4614 departed Kleine AB for Volkel AB in the Netherlands.
8/11
Volkel AB is home to the 703rd Munitions Support Squadron whose primary mission is also the handling of B61 nuclear weapons.
9/11
fas.org/publication/ne…
Today (4/14) USAF C-17 AE1239 as RCH4614 departed Volkel AB en route to Kirtland AFB, NM. It likely refueled along the way (as indicated by the lack of a fuel stop) possibly indicating a hazardous cargo on board.
10/11
Given the above, this was likely a mission to swap out B61s in storage at Kleine & Volkel ABs with freshly maintained weapons direct from Kirtland.
11/11
energy.gov/nnsa/us-nuclea…
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