B-52s from Minot AFB, N.D., are deploying to the Middle East for their turn to fight ISIS. The bombers, assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron, will deploy to US Central Command to replace B-52s that deployed last year from Barksdale AFB, La. A Minot spokesperson on Wednesday confirmed the deployment to Air Force Magazine but did not provide a timeline. An advance group has already deployed to the base, the Grand Forks Herald reported. B-52s have been busy combating ISIS in Iraq and Syria, with the aircraft recently setting a record for consecutive sorties without a single flight canceled due to a maintenance issue, Maj. Gen. Jay Silveria, deputy commander of Air Forces Central Command, said last week. Barksdale B-52s deployed last year to replace B-1s that had been continuously deployed to CENTCOM since 2001 but needed to return home for maintenance and upgrades.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…