Why are helicopters flying over North Manchester? Dramatic scenes as US Air Force military planes fly low over region
16.08.2023 - 16:25
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
American military aircraft were spotted flying low over North Manchester this afternoon.
Two Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey planes were caught on camera in the area just after 3pm on Wednesday (August 16) afternoon. Others also reported seeing the planes in Middleton and Rochdale.
According to the US Air Force website, the tiltrotor aircraft is used to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions for special operations forces. The planes later landed at Manchester’s Barton Aerodrome in Barton upon Irwell, Salford.
Posting video of the aircraft flying over, Adam Cailler took to social media to write: “Apparently war has broken out in North Manchester. Anyone got any idea why these massive beasts just flew overhead?!”
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Daniel Reed replied: "Landed at Manchester Barton a couple of minutes ago!" Adam then responded: "1. I had no idea Manchester Barton existed. 2. I'm now even more terrified.”
Another M.E.N reader reached out to share information on the planes. Andrew Mansbridge messaged: "These flew over Middleton at 15:00 today. Never seen them over Manchester.
"The United States Air Force (USAF) keeps the aircraft at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, where it is used by the 7th Special Operations Squadron for top-secret missions involving US special forces."
Situated on the edge of Chat Moss, Barton Aerodrome is used for commercial, private, military, police and air ambulance helicopters as well as a refuelling stop for light aircraft and helicopters.
Flight navigation data reported that the aircraft took off from the British Ministry of Defence’s Sculthorpe Training Area, near Norfolk.
The Ospreys were not only recent