B-52H bombers currently stationed at Andersen AFB, Guam, completed 10 sorties to Australian training ranges and executed practice bomb runs while participating in Talisman Saber 2009, a US-Australian military exercise, earlier this month. “Our purpose was to demonstrate what we can do with the B-52,” said Capt. Sean Stavely, B-52 aircraft commander with the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron. This unit comprises elements of the 96th Bomb Squadron at Barksdale AFB, La., that have been deployed on a rotation to Guam since the end of May as part of the continual US bomber presence there. The sorties consisted of 12-hour flights from Guam to Australia where the bombers worked with other US and Australian forces. Overall, the bombers tallied more than 110 flight hours. Said Stavely: “Taking off from Guam, going somewhere a long distance away, putting our bombs on target, and then coming back to the base that we came from” is a clear demonstration of the bombers’ capability. (Andersen report by SSgt. Jennifer Redente)
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s last three F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft's era on the frontlines of homeland defense.
