Britain's special relationship with the United States was in evidence at RAF Brize Norton as personnel from the US Air Force Reserve Command visited the West Oxfordshire base.

The American forces spent the third week of January at Brize Norton in a visit designed to allow them to share tactics and techniques involved in aeromedical evacuation with their RAF colleagues.

Aermoedical evacuation is the use of military aircraft to transport wounded personell.

The troops visited the base's tactical medical wing, which provides support and supplies medical services to RAF personnel all over the world.

The visit gave US and UK crews the chance to discuss the future of working together on aeromedical evacuation.

The USAF crew arrived in a Boeing KC-135 aircraft which is usually a tanker but has been fitted to take pallets which transform the fuselage into a mobile hospital.

Squadron Leader Marcus Stow from the tactical medical wing said: "The RAF works closely with our US counterparts on operations, therefore it is a valuable opportunity to train together and learn best practice.

"The visit has provided an opportunity to develop a greater understanding of how each nation undertakes the aeromedical role."

Lieutenant Colonel Beth Ann Spoon of the USAF said: "We hope to make this a quarterly exchange between our two nations in order to continue sharing best practice.

"This ultimately ensures that any service person injured or ill around the world will receive the best possible care."