Bombers head north to RED FLAG-Alaska

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jonathan Snyder
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  RED FLAG-Alaska 09-1 wrapped up flying operations over the Pacific Alaskan Range Complex Oct. 17. The realistic 10-day exercise creates a high paced and long hour work environment where 12-hour shifts are often the average.

Kunsan Air Base, with their F-16 Fighting Falcons acting as blue forces, and Eielson Air Force Base, 18th Aggressor Squadron F-16 Aggressors acting as red forces, were pitted against each other in aerial combat. Participating in this RF-A were long range bombers, B-52 Stratofortresses from the 23rd Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and the 96th Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Blue force fighters escorted and defended them over the PARC while the Aggressors goal was to shoot them down.

F-16 pilots can have a daunting task flying their heavily laden aircraft with 2,000 pound bombs, performing aerial maneuvers and being out gunned and out numbered by the Aggressors. The Kunsan pilots were able to complete the training mission with the B-52s by using discipline, tactics and integration with the ground controllers.

"Our training is two-fold. On one side, we are getting new aircrew exposed to execution of the myriad of missions we are tasked against, while we are also getting the senior aircrew mission planning cell and team chief experience during RED FLAG-Alaska," said Capt. David Leaumont, cell team chief with the 2nd Operations Support Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

Flying out of Anderson Air Base, Guam and Barksdale AFB, La., the B-52s flew non-stop to the PARC where they simulated dropping their pay-load then proceeded back to base with a successful mission. However on some missions they were intercepted and engaged by red forces. During RF-A the 96th Bomb Squadron completed all their objectives and made the exercise a success.

"I dealt with primarily air threats. We defended the jet, performing the maneuvers we train to do, and gave updates to the Airborne Early Warning and Control so they could send other blue air assets to engage the Aggressors," said 1st Lt. Dustin George, B-52 Stratofortress pilot with the 96th Bomb Squadron.

The B-52 crew of seven logged long hours in their flight records with non-stop round trip sorties. the sortie out of Guam flew a 23.1 hour mission and Barksdale flew an 18 hour mission, both being aerial refueled along the way. KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. were deployed to Eielson under the Tanker Task Force Detachment to support aerial refueling during the exercise keeping aircraft in the air and back in the fight.

"Staying vigilant is key and I was always seeking to learn more about what's going on around us, and how to improve our situation so that we have a greater possibility of striking the targets," the lieutenant said.

"To fight together, we have to train together. That's why we're here," said Maj. Curtis White, RF-A Tanker Task Force Detachment commander.