RAF Mildenhall

Branch: U.S. Air Force
Location: Mildenhall, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom
Installation Type: Royal Air Force Station (U.S. Operated)
Status: Active (Note: The 100th Air Refueling Wing is scheduled to eventually relocate to RAF Lakenheath as part of USAFE realignment; verify current operational status)

Overview

RAF Mildenhall is a Royal Air Force station located in Mildenhall, Suffolk, England, approximately 100 kilometers north of London and 30 kilometers northeast of Cambridge. Home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing – the only permanent KC-135 Stratotanker unit in Europe – RAF Mildenhall provides the critical aerial refueling backbone for all U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) operations. The 100th ARW carries the heritage of the famous “Bloody Hundredth” – the 100th Bomb Group that flew B-17s from Thorpe Abbotts in World War II. Mildenhall shares its airfield with RAF Lakenheath (F-15 fighters, 8 km away) making the Mildenhall-Lakenheath complex one of the most important U.S. Air Force installations in Europe.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Provide aerial refueling support for all USAFE and European theater operations with KC-135R Stratotankers; support theater and global tanker operations for Air Mobility Command; sustain European theater strike operations.
Major Units: 100th Air Refueling Wing (host wing, KC-135R Stratotanker, “Bloody Hundredth”); 351st Air Refueling Squadron; 352nd Air Refueling Squadron; 100th Operations Group
Tenant Units: 352nd Special Operations Wing (CV-22B Osprey, MC-130J, HH-60W) – special operations aviation; 488th Intelligence Squadron; various USAFE and Air Mobility Command support elements

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Cambridge – approximately 30 km southwest; Bury St. Edmunds – approximately 15 km southeast; Ely – approximately 20 km west; London – approximately 100 km south; Norwich – approximately 55 km northeast
Nearest Commercial Airport: London Stansted Airport (STN) – approximately 60 km southwest; Norwich Airport (NWI) – approximately 55 km northeast; London Heathrow (LHR) – approximately 115 km southwest
Gate Access: Main gate on A1101; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center; shared airspace and some access with RAF Lakenheath; UK MOD protocols apply

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 3,500
Family Members: Approximately 5,000
Civilian Employees: Approximately 1,500
Total Installation Population: Approximately 10,000

Key Facilities

Medical: 100th Medical Group Clinic; primary care, dental, behavioral health, and flight medicine; specialty referrals to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge (world-renowned NHS teaching hospital, one of Europe’s best), West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St. Edmunds; excellent NHS access in the area
Commissary: Yes – commissary on base; serves both Mildenhall and Lakenheath communities
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – AAFES exchange and facilities; serves the broader Mildenhall-Lakenheath community; one of the larger AAFES operations in Europe
Fitness & Recreation: Fitness centers; outdoor pool; golf course; bowling; auto skills; East Anglia and the Broads National Park nearby; cycling and walking in the flat Suffolk/Norfolk landscape; Cambridge and London easily accessible; excellent international travel via Stansted and Heathrow
Schools: DoDEA Mildenhall Elementary; DoDEA Mildenhall Middle School; DoDEA students at the secondary level may attend Lakenheath High School (8 km) or Mildenhall facilities; DoDEA serves all military children; Lakenheath High School is one of DoDEA’s largest in Europe
Childcare: Child Development Center on base; waitlists common; register early; UK registered childminders also available
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; UK veterinarians also available locally; high-quality veterinary care throughout Suffolk
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office, 100th ARW; appointment-based; UK and SOFA matters through JAG

Housing

On-Post Housing: Government quarters on base; family housing neighborhoods; condition generally good; strong competition for on-base housing
Average Wait Time: 30-60 days typical; economy housing in Suffolk communities common and popular
Off-Post Housing: Mildenhall town, Lakenheath village, Bury St. Edmunds, Newmarket, Ely, Brandon, and surrounding Suffolk/Norfolk villages are popular; OHA applies; English housing in East Anglia – flint stone and brick cottages; Newmarket is famous for horse racing; Bury St. Edmunds is a charming historic market town; East Anglia is flat but historically rich
OHA Rate Reference: Check current OHA rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil); Mildenhall OHA reflects West Suffolk rental costs

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit; 100th ARW sponsorship program; the Mildenhall-Lakenheath community is one of the largest U.S. military communities in Europe and benefits from shared facilities between the two bases
In-Processing: 100th Wing in-processing; typically 2-3 days; UK driving conversion; vehicle registration; ration card; shared community services with Lakenheath
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Airman and Family Readiness Center; enrollment required; Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and London hospitals provide outstanding specialist access; pediatric specialist access is generally good in this area

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Oceanic/temperate maritime; mild summers (average high 70F/21C in July); cool winters (average low 33F/1C in January); frequent clouds and rain; East Anglia is actually one of England’s drier regions (rain shadow from western hills); fog possible; changeable weather
Cost of Living: Moderate; Suffolk is less expensive than London or Cambridge city center; Mildenhall/Lakenheath area has a long history with U.S. military and has adapted economically; OHA adjustments help
Nearby Attractions: Cambridge University (30 km) – world-class university city; Ely Cathedral (20 km) – stunning medieval cathedral visible across the flat fens; Norwich (55 km) with Norwich Cathedral and Castle; Newmarket horse racing (15 km, world’s horse racing capital, home of The Jockey Club); Blickling Estate (60 km, National Trust, birthplace of Anne Boleyn); The Broads National Park (60 km, waterways); North Norfolk coast and beaches (70 km); Sandringham Royal Estate (75 km); London day trips (trains from Ely or Bury to London King’s Cross, approximately 1 hour); Constable Country (Essex/Suffolk border, 40 km); Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon burial site (40 km); Europe by EasyJet/Ryanair from Stansted (60 km)
Spouse Employment: UK employment authorization available for SOFA dependents; Cambridge tech corridor (Silicon Fen), NHS employment, education, and financial services (Bury St. Edmunds/Newmarket area) available; on-base employment through NAF, AAFES, commissary, DoDEA, and contractor positions; large combined Mildenhall-Lakenheath community supports more on-base employment than smaller UK installations; A&FRC assists

OCONUS-Specific Information

SOFA: U.S.-UK Visiting Forces Act (1952) and related bilateral agreements govern U.S. personnel; strong U.S.-UK Alliance (Special Relationship); covers legal jurisdiction, customs, vehicle registration, and operational matters
Host Nation Rules: UK laws apply off-base; left-hand traffic (opposite of U.S.); speed limits in mph; UK firearms laws extremely strict (no personal weapons off-base); pub culture and licensing hours; local communities in Suffolk have coexisted with U.S. military since WWII and are generally welcoming
Curfew: No formal SOFA curfew in the UK; unit-level liberty policies may apply; UK pub hours regulated by local licensing
Ration Card / Customs: USAFE ration card for tax-free purchases; fuel coupons available; UK customs; UK not in EU customs union post-Brexit; VAT refund possible for departing purchases
Vehicle Registration: Left-hand traffic – significant adjustment required; UK MOT for older vehicles; UK or SOFA registration; narrow Suffolk country roads and lanes; speed cameras common; roundabouts are the standard intersection format
Language and Culture: British English with East Anglian accent; Suffolk and Norfolk have their own regional character – agricultural, maritime heritage, flat landscape, Broads; generally welcoming to Americans; many Suffolk residents have multi-generational connection to U.S. military presence
Currency and Banking: British Pound Sterling (GBP); on-base banking; Bury St. Edmunds and surrounding towns have full banking facilities; contactless payment standard throughout UK
Travel Restrictions: Freedom of movement in UK and Ireland; European travel requires passport post-Brexit; Stansted airport provides excellent budget airline connections to Europe
Mail: APO AE address assigned; APO mail through military postal system; Royal Mail for local UK delivery
Pets: UK pet import: ISO microchip, current rabies vaccination, UK-specific official vet health certificate from USDA-accredited vet with USDA endorsement; tapeworm treatment for dogs 24-120 hours before UK arrival; EU pet passport not valid for UK entry post-Brexit; plan process well in advance; Suffolk is rural and very pet-friendly; many properties have gardens (yards) suitable for pets

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.mildenhall.af.mil; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/raf-mildenhall; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Mildenhall; Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law