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For the second time in less than a year, the U.S. Air Force has relieved the commander of a combat wing. This time it was the 5th Bomb Wing, a B-52 outfit. Previously, the commander of one of the three Minuteman ICBM wings was relieved. The three missile wings control 450 American Minuteman III ICBMs. In this case, two other senior officers were also relieved (one of them the guy in charge of the Wing Maintenance Squadron.) In both cases, the reason was "loss of confidence in his ability to command". That's milspeak for "too many little things have gone...

The B-52 aircraft deployed as part of the U.S. Air Force fleet are to be equipped with secure Extremely High Frequency Communication Systems to enable them to remain in contact with other elements of the military in space, in the air and on the ground. The revolutionary EHF has been found to be more reliable and less susceptible to atmospheric conditions than other frequencies. The Boeing Co. said Tuesday it received a $5.4 million initial contract to begin work on developing technologies required to integrate the new EHF satellite communication system on the U.S. Air Force B-52 fleet. No timeline...

Minot Air Force Base is preparing to activate a new B-52 bomber squadron that will send 10 more B-52s to the North Dakota base. The new unit will be the fourth B-52 squadron in the Air Force. Minot base already has one squadron and Barksdale Air Force Base has the other two B-52 units. The Air Force has not said whether the planes will be transferred from Barksdale or taken from backup aircraft. Air Force officials say adding the new squadron at Minot is part of plans to put a stronger emphasis on nuclear mission training for B-52 units.

August 1, 2008: The first of 18 U.S. Air Force B-52H bombers has been retired. All 18 will have been decommissioned and put into storage by next Spring. That will leave 76 still active. The retired B-52Hs have been in service 47 years. These aircraft could continue for another decade or more, but it was decided (between Congress and the air force) that the money saved from not maintaining such elderly aircraft could be better used elsewhere.

Are we going to have an October surprise, an attack on Iran by either the Bush administration or by Israel to stop the regime from becoming a nuclear power? It could happen - and alter the dynamics of the presidential race in the blink of an eye - but only if Israel pulls the trigger. Don't expect the United States to drop bombs anytime soon

Near U.S. 52 and Minnesota 55 in Inver Grove Heights, a memorial marks the spot where an Air Force B-52 bomber slammed into a cornfield 50 years ago today, killing seven of eight crewmen aboard. About 15 miles west, Bloomington resident Dave Mattsson pays tribute to the crash in the basement of his Cape Cod-style home. The 45-year-old aviation history buff has spent parts of a decade researching the Cold War crash and collecting everything from black and white photos to pieces of the plane. "Anything old you can touch tells a story," said Mattsson, a former skydiving instructor and...

(CNN) -- All six airmen aboard the B-52 bomber that crashed Monday off Guam's northwest coast were killed, Air Force officials confirmed Wednesday. Aboard Raider 21 were Maj. Christopher M. Cooper, 33; Maj. Brent D. Williams, 37; Capt. Michael K. Dodson, 31; 1st Lt. Joshua D. Shepherd, 26; 1st Lt. Robert D Gerren, 32; and Col. George Martin. The plane crashed about 30 miles northwest of Guam, the Air Force said in a statement. Air Force crews switched from a rescue operation to a recovery operation over the 7,000-square-mile crash site, said Air Force spokeswoman Sgt. Ashleigh Bryant.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080721/NEWS01/80720010&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

Ktal has learned that a B-52 deployed from Barksdale crashed in the waters off Guam this morning. TheB-52 was scheduled to fly in Guam's Liberation Day parade, when for unknown reasons, the aircraft crashed. An extensive search is underway for the 6 crew members aboard that aircraft ...Their conditions are unknown.... we'll bring you more information as soon as it becomes available to us.

1st week in May 2008, Western Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Guam, USA -- Two USN F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets intercept the low flying USAF B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber as it performs a rigging maneuver to identify the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).Large, medium, and the above smaller photo via http://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20050822.htm (photo 5). The Story Navy, Air Force train together to showcase capabilities By Staff Sgt. Stephen Teel, 36th Wing Public Affairs, Andersen AFB, Guam, USA http://www.GuamPDN.com/guampublishing/pacificedge/data/EkEkEFulppeoOcKtLi.htm

1. B-2 Spirit stealth heavy bomber (left), B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber (center), B-1B Lancer supersonic heavy bomber (right) fly in formation on 10 May 2008 for the 75th Anniversary of Barksdale AFB celebration. Large or medium photo via http://chamorrobible.org/gpw/gpw-20051129.htm (photo 12). 2. And here's the B-52 Stratofortress (left) and the B-2 Spirit (right) flying in formation on 10 May 2008. Large or medium or huge photo via http://chamorrobible.org/gpw/gpw-20051129.htm (photo 11). The Photographer United States Air Force Staff Sgt. Samuel E. Rogers, 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs, Langley Air Force Base

Hi thereYou're apparently here because youre interested in the above image. Well, here's the history of it. On the 21st of this month, I ran across a message somewhere on usenet that said something along the lines of "Well, looks like the terrorists lost the toss". This sat in my head for a bit, and I morphed it into the "The terrorists have won the toss, and have elected to receive". Now all I needed was a good photo of a 52 or something. Originally, I had intended to find an image I had seen before of a 52 doing ...

A B-52 bomber on a training mission from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana was forced to make an emergency landing at the Minot International Airport early this morning. According to a press release from Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs office, the five crew members from the 20th Bomb Squadron at Barksdale declared an in-flight emergency due to aircraft malfunctions and deteriorating weather conditions at the base. The B-52 just recently left the airport. No one from the Minot Air Force Base could be reached for comment on the situation. In the press release it stated that the 5th...

PALMDALE - A B-52 Stratofortress that once was on display at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds now graces the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Air Force Plant 42. Transported in pieces to Palmdale in June, the massive bomber is the biggest of more than a dozen planes on display at the municipal airpark, which was created to showcase aircraft with links to Palmdale. Although none of the 1950s-era bombers were built at Plant 42, some have been modified there, and some B-52s assigned to Edwards Air Force Base have used Plant 42 for refueling as well as practice takeoffs and landings....

Raid of two B-52 on Tora-Bora TORA BORA (Afghanistan), 10 déc (AFP) - Two American bombers B-52 simultaneously rammed Monday towards 7H00 local (2H30 GMT), the mountainous zone of Tora Bora (is), den of group Al-Qaïda, Ossama Ben Laden, noted a journalist of the AFP. The two heavy bombers, shifted approximately km, carried out a passage to the top of Tora Bora and released each one a series of bombs which exploded in a thunderous noise. It was the first raid of B-52 of Monday. Previously, during all the night of Sunday to Monday, of the raids of American ...

PALMDALE - The latest, and largest, addition to the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Air Force Plant 42 is readying for its debut. The massive B-52 Stratofortress bomber is undergoing restoration and reassembly at the airpark at Avenue P and 25th Street East. Thanks to mostly favorable weather conditions and speedy work, the project is expected to be completed by next week, about half the originally estimated time, said Tim Hughes, deputy Public Works director. The city hired Oklahoma-based Turnlow Company to complete the project. "They were highly recommended," Hughes said. The company, one of three which submitted bids to...

The 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base will be allowed more time to prepare for a major inspection that will help determine whether it will be recertified, base officials said Wednesday. The bomb wing was decertified in a portion of its wartime mission after a late August incident when six nuclear-tipped cruise missiles were mistakenly loaded at the Minot base onto a B-52 bomber from Barksdale AFB, La. A Barksdale crew then flew the plane to the base in Louisiana. Air Force officials at the Pentagon said the incident occurred because of airmen not following the proper procedures,...

BOWDOIN COLLEGE GRANT, Maine (AP) — The high price of metal apparently has prompted thieves to pilfer the remains of a B-52 bomber that crashed and killed seven servicemen on Elephant Mountain 45 years ago. The soaring price of metal has left nothing sacred to thieves, said Piscataquis County Sheriff John Goggin. The crash site is listed on the Maine Historic Archaeological Sites inventory, and a memorial service is held there each January. There have been a lot of break-ins at camps and summer homes where copper tubing and other metals have taken, but desecrating a grave site is another...

People driving into Edwards Air Force Base from the North Gate off Highway 58 have a new sentinel to greet them: the historic B-52 bomber that enjoyed a long career as the mother ship for the famous X-15 rocket planes and other flight test programs. Retired in December 2004, the bomber was moved to its new home outside the North Gate early this month after years of storage in various spots along the Edwards flightline. The move is part of an effort to make Edwards' notable history more accessible to the general public, after security concerns following the Sept. 11,...

The United States' "disturbing" safety standards for its nuclear weapons came under fire last night after 70 US Air Force personnel were disciplined over an "unprecedented" security failure. Three colonels, a lieutenant colonel and 66 other staff were punished after a B-52 bomber was mistakenly flown 1,200 miles across the America loaded with nuclear-armed missiles. It is regarded as the worst nuclear weapons security breach in the US for at least 40 years. The four officers were relieved of their commands following an investigation that found widespread disregard for the rules on handling weapons – in this case each warheads...

Airmen not following the proper procedures that they were trained in, along with a lack of leadership and supervision, caused the incident in late August where nuclear weapons were loaded on a B-52 bomber at Minot Air Force Base and were flown to Barksdale AFB in Louisiana, said Maj. Gen. Richard Newton, assistant deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements. “Their lack of attention in detail is where the failure occurred,” Newton said at a news conference at the Pentagon Friday. . . . He said the incident began with the failure of airmen to conduct a required...

70 punished in accidental B-52 flight By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 3 minutes ago The Air Force said Friday it has punished 70 airmen involved in the accidental, cross-country flight of a nuclear-armed B-52 bomber following an investigation that found widespread disregard for the rules on handling such munitions. "There has been an erosion of adherence to weapons-handling standards at Minot Air Force Base and Barksdale Air Force Base," said Maj. Gen. Richard Newton, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations. Newton was announcing the results of a six-week probe into the Aug. 29-30 incident...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A six-week probe into the mistaken flight of nuclear warheads across the country uncovered a "lackadaisical" attention to detail in day-to-day operations at the air bases involved in the incident, an Air Force official said Friday. The investigation found that "a limited number of airmen" at both locations failed to follow procedures, said Maj. Gen. Dick Newton, assistant deputy chief of staff for operations. Four officers -- including three colonels -- have been relieved of duty in connection with the August 29 incident in which a B-52 bomber flew from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Air Force will recommend the firing and disciplining of several service members involved in the mistaken flight of nuclear warheads across the country in August, according to a military official familiar with the investigation. The source did not want to be identified because not everyone involved has been informed. The just-concluded investigation into the August 29 incident is expected to recommend the firing of at least five Air Force service personnel and disciplinary action against others for failure to follow safety and security procedures, according to the source. Criminal charges also are being considered, the source...

Mystery surrounds deaths of Minot airmen Sat, 22 Sep 2007 23:10:30 Capt. John Frueh Six members of the US Air Force who were involved in the Minot AFB incident, have died mysteriously, an anti-Bush activist group says. The incident happened when a B-52 bomber was "mistakenly" loaded with six nuclear warheads and flown for more than three hours across several states, prompting an Air Force investigation and the firing of one commander. The plane was carrying Advanced Cruise Missiles from Minot Air Force Base, N.D, to Barksdale Air Force Base on August 30. The Air Combat Command has ordered a...

1) I've read on several sites that ALCMs and warheads are stored seperately. 2) Buffs haven't sat on the Tarmac loaded with Nuclear weapons ready to spank the russians/Chinese since the early 90s. My question is could some idiot back then have neglected to take the warheads off the missiles and Armed ALCMs sat in storage with rest of the unarmed ALCMs for 16 years?

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2007 – The Pentagon is awaiting results of an Air Force investigation into the alleged improper transfer of weapons by air from a base in North Dakota to a Louisiana military installation last week. News reports say several nuclear-tipped cruise missiles were mistakenly attached to the wing of a B-52 bomber, which then flew for more than three hours across several states. Media reports state the aircrew did not know nuclear weapons were aboard. “The Air Force is currently investigating an error made last Thursday in the transfer of munitions … from Minot Air Force Base to...

An Air Force B-52 bomber flew across the central United States last week with six cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads that were mistakenly attached to the airplane's wing, defense officials said yesterday. The Stratofortress bomber, based at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, was transporting a dozen Advanced Cruise Missiles to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana on Aug. 30. But crews inadvertently loaded half of them with nuclear warheads attached.

BISMARCK, N.D. - A B-52 bomber was mistakenly loaded with five nuclear warheads during a flight from North Dakota to Louisiana, a newspaper reported Wednesday. The bomber carried advanced cruise missiles as part of a Defense Department program to retire 400 of the missiles, the Military Times said, quoting three officers who spoke on condition they remain anonymous because they were not authorized to discuss the incident. The officers said the nuclear warheads should have been removed before the missiles were mounted onto pylons under the bomber's wings for the Aug. 30 flight from Minot Air Force Base in North...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- An Air Force squadron commander has been relieved of his command after five nuclear weapons were mistakenly loaded aboard a B-52 and flown cross-country from North Dakota to Louisiana last week, NBC News reported. Five 150-kiloton warheads were attached to cruise missiles that were flown from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana to be dismantled, but they should have been removed, according to officials. Military officials insist the warheads remained "under control" at all times and did not pose a danger. Click here to find out more! The squadron...

Three Air Force officers quoted in the Airforce Times say a B-52 bomber mistakenly loaded with five nuclear warheads flew from Minot Air Force Base to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, last week. Officers, who spoke under condition of anonymity, say the incident took place on August 30 and has resulted in an Air Force-wide investigation. The Times reports the B-52 was loaded with Advanced Cruise Missiles, part of a Defense Department effort to decommission 400 of the ACMs. But the nuclear warheads should have been removed at Minot before being transported to Barksdale, the officers said. Air Force spokesman...

An Air Force squadron commander has been relieved of his command after five nuclear weapons were mistakenly loaded aboard a B-52 bomber and flown cross-country from North Dakota to Louisiana last week. Five 150-kiloton warheads were attached to cruise missiles that were flown from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., to be dismantled, but the warheads should have been removed.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A wealthy Russian tried to buy a U.S. B-52 bomber from a group of shocked American pilots at an air show near Moscow, a Russian newspaper reported on Friday. The unidentified Russian, wearing sunglasses and surrounded by bodyguards, approached the U.S. delegation and asked to buy the bomber, the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper said. An astounded member of the U.S. delegation said the bomber was not for sale but that it would cost at least $500 million (249.5 million pounds) if it were to be sold on the spot. "That is no problem. It is such a cool...

A WEALTHY Russian tried to buy a US B-52 bomber from a group of shocked American pilots at an airshow near Moscow, a Russian newspaper reported today. The unidentified Russian, wearing sunglasses and surrounded by bodyguards, approached the US delegation and asked to buy the bomber, the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper said. An astounded member of the US delegation said the bomber was not for sale but that it would cost at least $US500 million ($610.54 million) if it were to be sold on the spot. “That is no problem. It is such a cool machine,” the Russian was quoted as...

The Air Force's fleet of B-52s, the nation's oldest active-duty aircraft, was certified Wednesday as the first that can use one of the Air Force's newest innovations: a cleaner-burning, domestically produced synthetic fuel blend. The certification is the culmination of a year-long test program conducted at Edwards, which was visited Wednesday by Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne to thank and congratulate the engineers, pilots and others who worked on the project. "This is a great day for the United States Air Force," Wynne said, "And another milestone for the Flight Test Center." Wynne called the B-52 fleet's certification "the tip...

EDWARDS AFB - The Air Force's fleet of B-52s, the nation's oldest active-duty aircraft, was certified Wednesday as the first that can use one of the Air Force's newest innovations: a cleaner-burning, domestically produced synthetic fuel blend. The certification is the culmination of a year-long test program conducted at Edwards, which was visited Wednesday by Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne to thank and congratulate the engineers, pilots and others who worked on the project. "This is a great day for the United States Air Force," Wynne said, "And another milestone for the Flight Test Center." Wynne called the B-52 fleet's...

WASHINGTON - While no longer the dominant economic force in the Antelope Valley, the area's aerospace industry is still a vital part of the economy. Leaders of the Antelope Valley Board of Trade heard largely positive reports from representatives of the major aerospace companies during their annual visit to the nation's capital this week. In visits to the Washington offices of The Boeing Co., Northrop Grumman Corp. and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. - they received updates on the companies' ongoing work at Palmdale's Air Force Plant 42 and Edwards Air Force Base and prospects for its continuance. One new topic...

Wednesday, March 7, 2007 · Last updated 7:15 p.m. PT Air Force scraps stealth missile fleet By ROBERT BURNS AP MILITARY WRITER WASHINGTON -- The Air Force said Wednesday it will retire the most modern cruise missile in the U.S. nuclear arsenal, a "stealth" weapon developed in the 1980s with the ability to evade detection by Soviet radars. Known as the Advanced Cruise Missile, the weapon is carried by the B-52 bomber and was designed to attack heavily defended sites. It is the most capable among a variety of air-launched nuclear weapons built during the Cold War that remain in...

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - In a move toward reducing the U.S. military's dependence on foreign oil, a B-52 bomber made a test flight Friday using only a synthetic diesel fuel. The flight is the latest in a series to validate that synthetic fuels can be used safely in military aircraft. The tests began in September, first using a 50-50 mixture of regular jet fuel and synthetic fuel in just two of the aircraft's eight engines. The next test phase for the B-52 will be cold-weather testing to determine how well the fuel performs in extreme weather conditions, Air Force...

PALMDALE - Voting unanimously and without discussion, the City Council agreed Wednesday to spend about $248,000 to bring a B-52 Stratofortress to the Plant 42 Heritage Airpark. Although none of the 1950s-era bombers were built at Plant 42 by The Boeing Co., some have been modified at the military facility for the testing of other aircraft, and some B-52s assigned to Edwards Air Force Base have used Plant 42 for refueling as well as practice takeoffs and landings. The city is interested in acquiring the plane not because of its affiliation with Plant 42 but because of its role in...

/begin my translationU.S. Strategic Bombers Practicing Nuclear Attack Against N. Korea N. Korean Central News Agency reported on Sept. 30, "American imperialists are frantically practicing aerial nuclear attack against our targets by their cutting-edge strategic bombers in September. On Sept. 6th and 8th, B-52H bombers from Guam flew all the way to bombing range near Taebaek City, S. Korea, and practiced nuclear attack against us, as a way of training for long-distance navigation and bombing.  American imperialists practiced aerial nuclear attack against us six times in Korean Peninsula and neighboring waters. Over 10 bombers were involved." The agency also blasted...

9/19/2006 - EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- The Air Force accomplished another aviation first when a B-52 Stratofortress flew using an alternative fuel Sept. 19. The flight test involved running two of the bomber's engines on a synthetic fuel, made from a 50-50 blend of traditional crude oil-based fuel and a Fischer-Tropsch fuel derived from coal. The jet's other six engines ran on traditional JP-8 jet fuel. Undersecretary of the Air Force Dr. Ronald M. Sega was on the mission as a crewmember. "This test sets the stage for a more comprehensive plan the Air Force has toward...

EDWARDS AFB - Searching for a means of reducing dependence on foreign oil, the Air Force is testing a synthetic fuel for its aircraft. The fuel could be a replacement for the JP-8 aviation fuel currently in use. Already tested by the Air Force Research Laboratory and in ground tests using an aircraft engine unattached to an airplane, the fuel will be put to the test at Edwards Air Force Base this month. "Now what we're going to do is take the next step and fly this," said Col. Arnie Bunch, commander of the 412th Test Wing. The flight tests...

Preparations are well under way for the Valley's premier aviation event - the Edwards Air Force Base Open House and Air Show. The free two-day event is set for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 28 and 29, at the base that has been home to flight testing nearly every aircraft in the Air Force inventory - past, present and future. That heritage is reflected in the event's theme - "The Edwards' Edge: Making History, Reaching New Heights." This year's festivities also will honor the 60th anniversary of the Air Force, one of the first official events to do so. Headlining the...

Airplane Talk [Aviation ...... Note: For those that don't know, "The Sled" is the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane from the 1960's and still the fastest airplane.] In his book, "Sled Driver", SR-71 Blackbird pilot Brian Shul writes: "I'll always remember a certain radio exchange that occurred one day as Walt (my back-seater) and I were screaming across Southern California 13 miles high. We were monitoring various radio transmissions from other aircraft as we entered Los Angeles airspace. Though they didn't really control us, they did monitor our movement across their scope. I heard a Cessna ask for a readout of...

THE RAF is drawing up plans to convert a fleet of 25-year-old patrol planes into Britain’s first long-range heavy bomber force since the Falklands war. The plan is being seen as Britain’s answer to America’s B-52 bomber, still in regular use more than 50 years after it first flew. The upgraded Nimrod reconnaissance planes, developed from 1950s Comet airliners, would be able to fly non-stop from Britain to hit targets in countries such as Iraq with cruise missiles or precision-guided bombs. The RAF’s current bombers, mainly Tornados, have a far shorter range and, as in the Iraq war in 2003,...

/15/2006 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- This year, the Air Force will test fly a B-52 Stratofortress that is powered, in part, by fuel derived from natural gas. The Air Force Research Laboratory's propulsion directorate, a part of Air Force Materiel Command, is providing technical assistance to the test flight scheduled for September at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The bomber will fly with two of its eight jet engines using a specially blended fuel made of conventional petroleum-derived JP-8 and a Fischer-Tropsch jet fuel produced from natural gas. The experiment is part of the Department of Defense's Assured Fuel Initiative,...

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jeremy Holmes 1st Lt. Jordan Holmes  B-52 Pilot Takes on Fuel from Little Sister’s Plane over Afghanistan By Master Sgt. Scott King 40th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, April 12, 2006 — Over the skies of Afghanistan, during a combat mission, one B-52 pilot got a surprise of a lifetime – “hooking� up with family. “I was surprised to hear her voice,� said Capt. Jeremy Holmes, 40th Air Expeditionary Group B-52 aircraft commander. “To make absolutely sure it was her, without throwing out any names over the radio, I asked if there...

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Larry Littrell, a B-52 pilot deployed to a forward operating location with the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, just reached 5,000 flying hours in the B-52 during a combat mission over Afghanistan. He has been flying the B-52 for 19 years. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Larry Littrell Forward Deployed B-52 Pilot Surpasses 5,000 Hours By Master Sgt. Scott King 40th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, April 6, 2006 — Reaching milestones is not uncommon in the Air Force, but some milestones...

B-52 Munitions Airmen Support Enduring Freedom Ops The airmen's goal is to provide 100 percent on-time deliveries using 100 percent reliable weapons, culminating in 100 percent bombs on target. By U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Scott King 40th Air Expeditionaly Group Public Affairs OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, March 31, 2006 — A group of U.S. Air Force airmen supporting Operation Enduring Freedom attribute their unit's tight-knit camaraderie to their demanding work environment. These airmen build bombs for the B-52 Stratofortress aircraft providing close air support over Afghanistan. "I feel the mission here is vital. Our 'Buffs' flying above enemy territory...