B-52s bring persistent airpower to Exercise Pitch Black 12

by Airman 1st Class Marianique Santos, 36th Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFNS) -- The 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Minot Air Force Base, N.D., took to the skies of Australia's Northern Territory Aug. 2 to 18 as the lone U.S. Air Force unit flying in Exercise Pitch Black 12.

With more than 2,200 personnel and up to 100 participating military aircraft, Exercise Pitch Black 12 is the Royal Australian Air Force's largest and most complex air exercise.

From July 27 to Aug. 17, the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, Australian Defense Force, Royal Thai Armed Forces, Singapore Armed Forces, New Zealand Defense Force, Malaysian Armed Forces, French Armed Forces, British Armed Forces, Indonesian National Armed Forces and a component operating under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization participated in the exercise.

The 69th EBSs' participation in Pitch Black 12 is critical to satisfying their mission objectives in support of Pacific Air Forces' continuous bomber presence.

As part of the mission, bombers participate in exercises while deployed in order to showcase both U.S. offensive and defensive capabilities, engage with the citizens of regional partners and ultimately contribute toward interoperability with other countries.

"In traversing the Pacific Ocean for large-scale exercises such as Rim of the Pacific and Pitch Black 12, our crews hone their skills, as well as assure our allies of the United States' commitment to the region," said Capt. Timothy May, 69th EBS weapons and tactics flight commander and bomber liaison officer representing the squadron for planning and briefings in Australia for Pitch Black 12.

"It shows that the United States maintains a credible strike capability in the region at all times," he said.

For more than 20 years, the RAAF has conducted the biennial Pitch Black Exercises as major training activities, providing participating nations the opportunity to obtain useful military training and the chance to strengthen ties with regional partners.

Captain May said that integrating into Pacific Command joint and coalition exercises, operations and training provided aircrews unique training opportunities in support of the continuous bomber presence..

"This exercise afforded my colleagues and I a tremendous opportunity to learn and expand our skills as aviators," said Captain May. "Communicating and planning with our Pacific allies provided a unique learning opportunity that bolsters cultural and professional relationships among regional partners."

During the exercise, the B-52 displayed unique capabilities that make it a commodity in such large-scale air exercises. Along with its ordnance capacity, the B-52 brings a long-endurance capability, which translates directly to persistent airpower.

"The B-52 brings a volume of ordnance that smaller, tactical assets cannot match," said Captain May. "In multiple cases during the exercise, a single B-52 covered nearly 50 percent of its team's targets in given scenarios."

The exercise required participants to conduct offensive counter air and defensive counter air missions launched from RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal.

Pitch Black 12 utilized massive training areas that featured realistic threat simulations and targets. These training areas accommodated larger aircraft formations and provided a formidable obstacle course for the aircraft and crews of participating nations.

"During the exercise we integrated into flying formations with the other nations," said Maj. Christopher Morris, 69th EBS mission planning cell team chief. "On a training day, we can have Indonesian or Taiwanese aircraft escort us to the target and protect us from the opposing targets. Such formations promote good integration with our regional partners' air forces."

Captain May said that the exercise gave participants opportunities to practice operating in high threat environments against very capable adversaries.

"With six nations participating we receive different perspectives from regional air forces, from mission planning to execution to debrief," said Captain May. "The collective efforts of all six nations bring an impressive array of aircraft and skills to the fight."

The 69th EBS participation in Pitch Black 12 is only one among multiple exercises where in the B-52 has represented the U.S. Air Force and its air-strike capability.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to integrate with our allies through participation in Pitch Black 12," said Lt. Col. Doug Gosney, 69th EBS commander. "Our B-52 bomber force and aircrew maintain a high level of readiness across all mission sets. Participation in these types of exercises allow us to hone our skills even further while simultaneously forging and strengthening relationships with our friends and allies."

Along with experiences gained and reinforced international ties, the 69th EBS continues to support the CBP mission and take part in exercises that develop greater interoperability, strengthen regional peace, and promote stability and prosperity within the Asia-Pacific Region.

"I am extremely proud of our bombers and crew force for their accomplishments and participation in regional activities in the Pacific," said Gosney. "Their service and dedication bring unique capabilities to these coalition and joint exercises as part of the continuous bomber presence mission and is a testament to the fact that the Air Force stands ready for the call and can successfully accomplish all assigned missions."

Bomb squadrons rotate at Andersen AFB

by Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings, 36th Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFNS) -- 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."

The 23rd EBS is scheduled to depart Andersen AFB later this month after its nearly six month deployment here.

"Being able to replace our fellow Minot (AFB) squadron has been a huge advantage," Colonel Cardoza said. "The 23rd EBS continuously fed us lessons learned throughout their deployment and built a very strong foundation for us to work from. It also allowed us to swap personnel without having to move large amounts of equipment and airplanes."

During their deployment here, the 23rd EBS members had the opportunity to get unique training they couldn't get anywhere else, officials said.

Logging more than 1,400 hours of flight time, dropping more than 700 bombs and performing 200 sorties, both aircrew members and maintainers had to be on their toes to meet their flight schedule.

"This deployment has been so dynamic," said 1st Lt. Corrine Hester, a 69th EBS dual-seat navigator. "From working with multinational and joint forces, to sinking a boat in the middle of the ocean, this has been the best training we could get for what we do. It's been a great time and we will be back, but for now, it's time to go home and give our brothers and sisters a chance to take advantage of what a deployment here has to offer."

69th Bomb Squadron is the second B-52 squadron at Minot base

By ELOISE OGDEN, Minot Daily News Regional Editor eogden@minotdailynews.com

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE The new 69th Bomb Squadron, the second B-52 squadron at Minot Air Force Base, is set to go, say the commanders of Air Force Global Strike Command and 8th Air Force.

"They just received an inspection last week that proved their readiness to take on the nuclear mission so they're past that hurdle," said Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter, commander of 8th Air Force, at a news conference at the base Feb. 1.

Carpenter and Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, both with headquarters at Barksdale AFB, La., were at the base Feb. 1 when the 5th Bomb Wing transferred to Global Strike Command.

The 69th Bomb Squadron was activated five months ago on Sept. 3, 2009, and is the fourth operational B-52 squadron in the Air Force, joining the 23rd Bomb Squadron as the second squadron at the Minot base. Lt. Col. Michael Cardoza is commander of the 69th.

The new squadron was established to provide each B-52 wing the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB and the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB with two active-duty combat-coded squadrons.

The rest of the story is available at
http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/536535.html

Air Force officials reactivate 69th Bomb Squadron at Minot

by Tech. Sgt. Lee Osberry Jr., 5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFNS) -- Air Force officials reactivated the 69th Bomb Squadron Sept. 3 at Minot Air Force Base.

The new unit is the fourth operational B-52H Stratofortress squadron in the Air Force and joins the 23rd Bomb Squadron as the second squadron here.

The new squadron was established to provide each B-52 wing with two active-duty combat coded squadrons, which will give the Air Force "bench depth" to rotate the squadrons across the mission sets as recommended in the Defense Science Board Report.

Barksdale AFB, La., has two operational B-52H units, the 20th Bomb Squadron and the 96th Bomb Squadron.

The much-anticipated stand up was previously announced in 2008 and extensive studies were conducted to determine which base the unit would best fit. Minot AFB was announced as the home and the 69th BS was designated for reactivation Aug. 28.

"The activation of the 69th Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base is a historic event that continues the legacy of the distinguished 69th Bomb Squadron," said Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Carpenter, the 8th Air Force commander. "In World War II, the 69th Bomb Squadron deployed A-26 and B-26 bombers to Australia and the South Pacific. And during the Vietnam War, the 69th Bomb Squadron stepped up to the plate and deployed B-52 aircraft to Guam and Thailand. Now more than 65 years after its initial activation, the 69th Bomb Squadron returns to provide deterrence forces and help balance the demands of both the nuclear and conventional missions of the B-52 fleet."

"The 69th has close ties with the 5th (Bomb Wing), and is definitely a logical choice," said Lt. Col. Kevin J. Notari, 5th Operations Group Det. 1 commander. "Both units fought simultaneously out of two different locations in the Southwest Pacific theater during World War II. Furthermore, the unit was the first Air Force unit to fly night low-level combat sorties during the first three days of Desert Storm."

As a result, 10 B-52 aircraft from Barksdale AFB will flow to Minot AFB between October and April 2010.

There won't be a significant number of personnel that will flow with the aircraft, as personnel for the new squadron will flow in gradually through the normal (permanent change of station) process and support from the 23rd Bomb Squadron.

"This activation is a measure of the confidence our nation has in the men and women of Minot Air Force Base," said North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven. "The 69th Bomb Squadron will bring approximately 1,000 new military members and their families to the state and will be a major asset to the community, Minot Air Force Base and our nation," he added.

The squadron is expected to mirror the other three currently established active B-52 squadrons. As the squadron builds up, many of the resources and functions from the 23rd BS will be shared including training, exercises and deployments.

"This adds flexibility to the Air Force Global Strike Command mission," said Maj. William Byers, the 5th OG Det. 1, chief of standard evaluations. "The 69th allows for an even distribution of operations tempo between the 2nd Bomb Wing and 5th BW, and at the same time, supports the persistent presence in United States Pacific Command," he added. This will help refine and focus nuclear mission training for B-52 units and is part of continued Air Force efforts to reinvigorate the nuclear enterprise.

The Air Force has a legacy of providing strategic capabilities as stewards of the nuclear enterprise, and is committed to conducting safe, secure and reliable nuclear operations.