Northamptonshire Police partnered with members of the United States Air Force (USAF) 422nd Security Forces Squadron at RAF Croughton last month.
Officers were taken through their paces with stun grenades, smoke bombs and blank ammo as part of a realistic training drill to prepare against a marauding terrorist attack.
Only last week a top cop warned lockdown easing could be an opportunity for terror attackers as crowds pack shops and pub beer gardens.
But the scenes from the US military base were compared on social media to the Bruce Willis blockbuster Die Hard 2, in which Detective John McClane attempts to thwart a terrorist attack at an airport.
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Photographs and footage show armed police making their way across runways and fields to neutralize a simulated threat as part of their ‘cover and move’ exercises.
Firearms officers were joined by American colleagues as part of a move that will also see the USAF use the force’s firearms range facility for their training.
Superintendent Tom Thompson, from Northants Police’s Specialist Operations Unit, said training exercises such as open country searches and close protection were carried out.
He revealed it was also a “great way to build relationships with other agencies” at the site which was the scene of the death of Harry Dunn and led to diplomatic tensions between the UK and USA.
The teenager died in hospital after a crash outside RAF Croughton in August 2019 which led to suspect Anne Sacoolas leaving the UK under diplomatic immunity.
Supt Thompson said:
“Using different venues is a good way of enhancing and refreshing training, to make sure officers do not get complacent.
“It is also a great way to build relationships with other agencies.
“In this case, it allows Northamptonshire Police to use an interesting training area and it allows the United States Air Force to use a local law enforcement venue for their own essential training.”
Northamptonshire Police’s Armed Police Training Manager, Sergeant Wayne Dowson said:
“Being at RAF Croughton is a great opportunity for us to conduct firearms training in an environment that’s suitable for both armed response vehicle training and other specialist firearms training.
“We’re able to deploy stun grenades, smoke and fire blank ammunition to further enhance training and better prepare our officers for the operational environment.
“This is a great venue, secure and away from the public and I’d like to thank RAF Croughton and everyone here for facilitating Northamptonshire Police.”
First Lieutenant George Marte, 422nd SFS operations officer, said:
“Our goal is to continue to demonstrate that we are part of the community.
“Training events like this show the local community that here at the 501st Combat Support Wing, we make it a priority to continue to engage and strengthen our relationship with our mission partners through integration and partnership.”
Staff Sgt Alvaro Gonzalez, 422nd SFS unit trainer, said:
“Events like this are important because it allows defenders to witness different tactics being implemented at all levels.
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“As a training instructor, I paid close attention to how the NHPD instructors delivered the training material to their students to add variety to my method of delivery for when I instruct my students.
“The partnership of working with an off-base host nation police agency has invaluably broadened my experience as a defender and a non-commissioned officer in this career field.”