A B-2 bomber deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo., crashed Saturday morning just after taking off, according to various news reports. An Air Force statement said the two pilots on board ejected safely. The Whiteman bombers have been deployed to Guam since last fall as part of a now-standard rotation to the Pacific region. It is the first crash of a B-2 bomber, which have been in operational use since 1993.
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.