Also if it really mattered I’m sure the UK could work out how to do much if the required maintenance themselves. It’s not exotic tech at this point.

Doesn’t really follow…

To say nothing of the wider hypothetical conflict, wouldn’t the US bases themselves be trivial to overrun by UK land forces?

They’re air bases and not fortified from attack by the host country. If anything the easy opportunity to disable their aircraft while getting our hands on any undamaged kit could present a minor tactical advantage.

For this reason they’d surely vacate before turning nasty.

Am I missing something?