Fairford: A Cotswold Town - A NATO Base

Overview

In April this year, nine KC 135 Stratotankers - flying petrol pumps - took off from Fairford to refuel the F-111s that bombed Libya. Yet an incident that made world headlines and caused an international crisis seems to have had little effect on the local people. The baker hardly notices the Americans. The water bailiff doesn't worry about their presence. Only a small warning voice is heard every so often. "If there is a war, Fairford is a bulls eye", says author Susie Vereker. "The whole of Gloucestershire is, in fact." In the meantime sheep are sheared, bells are rung and the harvest is safely gathered in.