BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - (Left) Capt. Andrew Embry, B-52H Stratofortress aircraft commander, and Capt. Michael Plourde, co-pilot, both from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., complete pre-flight checklists during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Exercise Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The B-52 performs a dual-role mission, nuclear and conventional, providing a rapid global strike capability and ability to reach hardened and buried targets anywhere and at anytime. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - A B-52H Stratofortress from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., is parked on the ramp during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Exercise Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The B-52 performs a dual-role mission, nuclear and conventional, providing a rapid global strike capability and ability to reach hardened and buried targets anywhere and at anytime. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - (Left) Capt. Andrew Embry, a B-52H Stratofortress aircraft commander from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., arrives at his aircraft before a mission during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The B-52 is capable of dropping or launching the widest array of weapons in the U.S. inventory, to include gravity bombs, cluster bombs, precision guided missiles and joint direct attack munitions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Capt. Andrew Embry, a B-52H Stratofortress aircraft commander from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., reviews aircraft paperwork with Airman1st Class Jake Corthas, a crew chief from the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Barksdale, before a mission during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The exercise provides an opportunity for Air Force Global Strike Command units to demonstrate conventional strike capability, anytime and anywhere. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Capt. Michael Plourde, a B-52H Stratofortress pilot from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., checks the engines before a flight during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The exercise provides an opportunity for Air Force Global Strike Command units to demonstrate conventional strike capability, anytime and anywhere. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Capt. Ryan King, a B-52H Stratofortress instructor pilot from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., prepares for a flight during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The B-52 performs a dual-role mission, nuclear and conventional, providing a rapid global strike capability and ability to reach hardened and buried targets anywhere and at anytime. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - A B-52H Stratofortress from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., taxis on the flight line during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The B-52 performs a dual-role mission, nuclear and conventional, providing a rapid global strike capability and ability to reach hardened and buried targets anywhere and at anytime. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Capt. Andrew Embry (Left), B-52H Stratofortress aircraft commander, and Capt. Michael Plourde, co-pilot, both from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., prepare for take-off during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The B-52 performs a dual-role mission, nuclear and conventional, providing a rapid global strike capability and ability to reach hardened and buried targets anywhere and at anytime. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Capt. Andrew Embry, (Left) B-52H Stratofortress aircraft commander and Capt. Michael Plourde co-pilot, both from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., take-off during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The B-52 performs a dual-role mission, nuclear and conventional, providing a rapid global strike capability and ability to reach hardened and buried targets anywhere and at anytime. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Capt. Michael Plourde, B-52H Stratofortress co-pilot, from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., completes in-flight checklists during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The B-52 performs a dual-role mission, nuclear and conventional, providing a rapid global strike capability and ability to reach hardened and buried targets anywhere and at anytime. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - B-52H Stratofortress navigator 1st Lt. Mason Martin, from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., runs a checklist during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The B-52 performs a dual-role mission, nuclear and conventional, providing a rapid global strike capability and ability to reach hardened and buried targets anywhere and at anytime. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Capt. Andrew Embry, a B-52H Stratofortress aircraft commander from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., pilots a mission during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The exercise provides an opportunity for Air Force Global Strike Command units to demonstrate conventional strike capability, anytime and anywhere. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Capt. Ryan King, a B-52H Stratofortress instructor pilot from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., inspects a maintenance issue during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The B-52 performs a dual-role mission, nuclear and conventional, providing a rapid global strike capability and ability to reach hardened and buried targets anywhere and at anytime. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - Capt. Andrew Embry, a B-52H Stratofortress aircraft commander from the 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., pilots a mission during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The B-52 can carry nuclear or precision ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. - B-52H Stratofortress pilots from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., receive a briefing before a flight during Exercise Red Flag, March 3, 2012. Red Flag trains pilots from the U.S., NATO and other allied countries for realistic combat scenarios. The exercise provides an opportunity for Air Force Global Strike Command units to demonstrate conventional strike capability, anytime and anywhere. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradley C. Church)