RAF Fairford has one of the longest runways in the UK – at just under two miles (3km)- which makes it the preferred choice for large bombers.
In a bid to bolster its military base in the Cotswolds, the US has stationed a number of its heavy-duty bombers at the base.
The 146ft (44.5m) B-1 bomber, which weighs 86 tonnes, is the fastest bomber in the US Air Force, according to Boeing, hitting speeds of more than 900mph (1,448.4km/h).
Nicknamed “the Bone”, it has advanced radar and GPS systems to help hit targets and electronic jammers, radar warnings and a decoy system to protect it from enemies.
B-52 bombers, which came into service in the 1950s, along with C17 transporter planes carrying munitions and spare parts for the bombers have also been spotted at the base.