Wing Aircrews fly to Alaska to compete in Global Strike Challenge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Gordinier
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The 2d Bomb Wing recently competed in the Global Strike Challenge, where the 20th Bomb Squadron, the 96th Bomb Squadron and the 2d Operations Support Squadron flew 19-hour sorties to the Yukon Range in Alaska to put bombs on targets.

Many wings throughout Air Force Global Strike Command flew sorties in competition to see who will reign as the "best of the best."

The aircrews are scored by timing, bomb impact location and electronic counter measure jamming effectiveness. The scores will be revealed during the Global Strike Challenge symposium here Nov. 17. Bombing scores are worth 40 percent of the total competition score. The bomb wing with the best overall score will win the coveted Fairchild Trophy. The missile wing with the best overall score will earn the Blanchard Trophy.

"Our mission went very well in my opinion," said Capt. Michael Ramamurthy, 20th BS aircraft commander. "We made an on-time takeoff and made our milestones along the route of flight. Once in the target area we released a BDU-50 per pass for a total of three runs. During each run we also jammed various surface-to-air missile sites, which scored our jamming effectiveness."

Capt. Michael Stepan, 96th Bomb Squadron electronic warfare officer, thinks the 96th BS did equally well.

"It went great, as far as the primary 96th crew is concerned," he said. "We did everything in our power to 'shack' our timing, put the bombs on target and defend the jet using electronic attack."

"Flying a B-52 for 19 hours can be tiring, but with the proper training the crew can balance their own limitations to accomplish the mission," Captain Ramamurthy added.

"A long sortie that ends with weapons on target is something that we train to on our Guam deployments and it is realistic for a B-52 in combat," he said.

Much preparation and training was done to enhance the effectiveness of this particular mission and competition.

The 20th BS held its own squadron bomb competition called 'Buccsmoke,' which tested crews on academics, flying proficiency and package level coordination, Captain Ramamurthy said. The winners of Buccsmoke were chosen as the primary Global Strike Challenge crews, who flew the sortie to Alaska.

The 96th BS played in a few exercises, SURGE and Combat Hammer, to assist with their selection of aircrew to represent them in Global Strike Challenge.

"Also, countless hours of research, scheduling and mission planning were performed in the days leading up to the competition," Captain Stepan added.

"These sorties, as always, are a 2d Bomb Wing team effort," said Captain Michael Pontius, 2d Operations Support Squadron. "Maintenance puts forth great effort to provide us healthy aircraft. Additionally, there are tons of behind-the-scenes operations such as runway repair, and computer and phone support that facilitate a mission such as this. Sorties flown from Louisiana to Alaska to put bombs on target, at the exact second briefed, within a few feet of the targets, and then safely return home is something that all of team Barksdale should be very proud of. Each Airman here plays a role in this...the mission of the 2d Bomb Wing."

"There is a certain element of luck involved with these types of competitions; however, I firmly believe that we put ourselves in a position to win the Fairchild Trophy come November," Captain Stepan concluded.