The 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La., is “home” to all B-52 aircrew—pilots, navigators, and electronic warfare officers. The squadron runs BUFF initial and upgrade training, and, in 2005, the unit processed 315 B-52 students—180 were brand new to the oldest bomber in the service. (Read our story on the 50-plus-year-old workhorse here.) According to Lt. Col. Parker Northrop, 11th BS commander, the training program has been revamped some. It now includes joint warfighting, using the virtual Buff to learn advance tactics and add multiple airframes, sometimes getting to experience Red Flag and Air Warrior II exercises.
An important U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry AWACS command and control plane was among the aircraft damaged in a March 27 Iranian missile and drone attack on Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.