B-2 bomber crews deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, turned around within a few days to test their long-duration sortie capability. The mission—dubbed “Polar Lightning”—required a two-ship formation to complete a mission at a training range in Alaska, resulting in a 9,800 nautical mile round trip from Andersen. Typical combat missions for the B-2 last 30 hours, according to unit officials. Air Force journalist TSgt. Mikal Canfield reports that mission preparation includes everything from aerial refueling arrangements to the rest plan and high-protein meals needed by the pilots.
All 12 American bombers deployed in Britain rapidly returned to the U.S. on Oct. 4 following security concerns about a potential Iranian threat to their base in the U.K.