A dozen or so B-52s and 650 personnel from Barksdale AFB, La., passed through Andersen AFB, Guam, last week as part of the Air & Space Expeditionary Force 7 and 8 deployment. It was just another sign that Guam is a rising star in the Air Force firmament, serving as a key strategic deployment location for bombers on rotation duty supporting US Pacific Command’s area of operations and as a maintenance way station for aircraft going on to support operations in Southwest Asia. PACAF has personnel in place at Andersen to perform phase maintenance on B-52 bombers en route to SWA. Being able to conduct maintenance at Andersen prevents wasting flying hours, allowing the aircraft and crew to complete more combat missions, says to Lt. Col. Ronald Funk, 40th Air Expeditionary Group vice commander.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
