The Missouri Air National Guard’s 131st Bomb Wing (formerly the 131st Fighter Wing) flies the wing’s first solo B-2 bomber sortie since taking on the new mission. The Air Force decided in 2006 to pair the ANG unit with the active duty 509th BW at Whiteman AFB, Mo., after BRAC 2005 stripped the wing of its F-15 fighters. The 131st BW is the first ANG unit to fly bombers since 2001, when USAF reorganized its B-1B bomber, eliminating two ANG wings.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
