Posted on 12/03/2010 5:18:43 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
More than 200 Airmen and two B-52H Stratofortress aircraft arrived here recently to replace the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron.
The Airman are assigned to the 69th Bomb Squadron from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and are supporting U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence.
"Our number one priority is to support theater objectives and maintain peace and stability in the region," said Lt. Col. Michael Cardoza, the 69th EBS commander. "After that, we are looking forward to honing our combat skills in a variety of conventional mission sets.
"We have spent the last year primarily focused on perfecting our nuclear mission. Now we are able to shift our focus somewhat and are very motivated to support the Andersen AFB CBP mission," he said. "This deployment will give us a lot of outstanding training opportunities throughout the Pacific area of responsibility."
The swap out is historic for several reasons.
The 69th and 23rd EBS are units from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, and the swap out marks the first time the wing will have two units on back-to-back deployments in support of the CBP in Guam, officials said. The 69th EBS, which was recently reactivated at Minot AFB Sept. 4, 2009, will be on its first deployment back here since the Vietnam War.
"It is a great milestone in a year full of milestones for the newest B-52 squadron," Colonel Cardoza said. "Deploying to Andersen and supporting the CPB mission allows us to show our allies and enemies that (69th EBS members) are open for business and ready to execute the mission worldwide."
(Excerpt) Read more at af.mil ...
Aren’t these the jerks who lost control of several nukes a few years ago and who had that kook female lieutenant who was sleeping with just about everyone on the base?
I bet they weren't sleeping.
Mark
The 69th Bomb Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. After being inactivated on 1 September 1991, it was reactivated on 3 September 2009 at Minot Air Force Base, and assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing. Initially the squadron will operate four B-52s, receiving further aircraft incrementally until it reaches full strength of 11 primary aircraft and two spares.
A squadron typically consists of three or four flights, with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft
We just don't talk about 'em much.
Ping
“...69th Bomb Squadron from Minot Air Force Base, N.D...”
With the chance to escape North Dakota winters for Guam, I’m willing to bet that there was no shortage of volunteers for this deployment.
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