307th Bomb Wing is vital to Barksdale

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristin High
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Located on the south side of base and a short drive down Davis Avenue is the 307th Bomb Wing headquarters. Although locals are familiar with the 2nd Bomb Wing, 8th Air Force and Air Force Global Strike Command, not as many may know about the Airmen of the 307th BW and the capabilities they bring to the fight.

The 307th is a component of the Air Force Reserve Command. Members of the 307th include classic associates, reservists who augment into an active-duty shop to help with training, and active associates, who are active-duty members who work with the reservists.

"There's only one place in the whole world that integrates classic and active associates and that's Barksdale," said Col. Jon Ellis, commander of 307th BW.

The wing has two essential missions. One is to train B-52H Stratofotress aircrew to employ the B-52 in combat. The other involves integrating crews with the 2 BW to help support their missions, Ellis added.

The units' 93rd Bomb Squadron is the B-52 Formal Training Unit providing all formal training for B-52 crews, both active and reserve.

"Through Total Force Integration, the 93rd Bomb Squadron is the lead unit associated with the 11th BS to train crew members who are brand new to the B-52," said Lt. Col. James Morriss, 307th Operations Group deputy commander. "They provide upgrade training as their experience matures, retrain experienced aviators who have not flown the B-52 for some time, produce instructors for use at the various units in the community and finally, ensure our senior officers are qualified to fly the B-52."

First and foremost, the FTU provides qualified, combat ready crew members to the 2 BW and the 5 BW at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., ensuring the nuclear triad is complete; which is their number one focus, he added.

The 307 BW began operating with the B-52 during the Vietnam War, but was deactivated in 1975. With approximately 1,400 Airmen currently assigned to it, the 307th is the only reserve unit operating the B-52H Stratofortress.

"For several years, the A-10s and the B-52s were in the same wing under the 917th," said Ellis. "In January of 2011, the 307th was reactivated and took control of the B-52s while the 917th kept the A-10s."

Presently, the wing is assigned 18 B-52H aircraft.

"The B-52 is going to be around until my children's children are flying and we need to make sure crews are trained," said Ellis. "I have the most experienced instructors in FTU on the planet. Most of them have been flying 'here for 25 years."

Not only does the 307 BW manage the FTU for the B-52 community, it also contributes directly to the combat role, said Morriss. The 343rd Bomb Squadron is a combat squadron under the 307th who works with the 2 BW. The squadron trains and deploys, performing the same missions under the 2 BW umbrella.

"The most important part of the 307th's mission to me is taking care of the people," said Ellis. "It's important to make sure my Airmen have the resources and the support they need to do their jobs."