BUFF staying busy at 60

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joseph Raatz
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  B-52 Stratofortresses from Barksdale's 96th Bomb Squadron recently showcased the aircraft's prowess in a wide range of missions by participating in a joint large force exercise known as Boar's Nest in Georgia, a Carrier Strike Group exercise off the coast of California and a bombing competition in Kansas, all in the course of a single week.

For six decades, the eight-engined behemoth affectionately known as 'the BUFF' has demonstrated its effectiveness and tremendous value time and again over battlefields around the globe. Today the B-52 has the ability to fill a variety of roles, from precision bombing and close air support to maritime reconnaissance and anti-access/area denial operations. 

"Over the course of Boar's Nest and the CSG exercise, the B-52 and its crews validated their capability to support a diverse array of mission sets," said Lt. Col. Jason Horton, 96th Bomb Squadron commander.

During Boar's Nest, the B-52s conducted strikes on simulated enemy positions and launched Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and other munitions to take down simulated enemy anti-air defenses. They also participated in a Close Air Support exercise, communicating with Joint Terminal Attack Controllers on the ground who coordinated with more than 30 aircraft, including F-22 Raptors, F-35 Lightning IIs and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs.

"The CAS exercise demonstrated the B-52's ability to employ weapons in close proximity to ground troops while integrating with other Air Force platforms," Horton explained.

At the same time, other B-52s from the 96th BS were engaged in maritime operations while participating in a Carrier Strike Group exercise with the USS John C. Stennis. The BUFF is well-suited for these missions, with two aircraft able to monitor 140,000 square miles of ocean surface in just two hours. In addition to reconnaissance, the B-52s were able to provide interdiction support and participate in two naval mining exercises.

Integrated combat exercises like these provide valuable training experience and insight into operating within a joint-service environment, Horton said.

While the 96th BS was engaged on each coast, Barksdale held its 2015 Turkey Shoot, an annual competition between 2nd Bomb Wing's bomb squadrons to see who can drop the "best bomb."

"Crews from both active duty and reserve squadrons here at Barksdale flew to the Smoky Hill Weapons Range in Kansas to drop unguided bombs on a target," said Capt. Mark Burley, 2nd Operations Support Squadron assistant director of operations. "For a Turkey Shoot, both accuracy and timeliness factor in to determine the score."
In the real world, these skills translate to increased effectiveness of live weapons on enemy targets, Burley explained.

Whether delivering 70,000 pounds of conventional munitions in a display of overwhelming firepower, surveying broad swaths of ocean to guard against inbound threats or providing precise fire-support to troops on the ground, the BUFF continues to adapt and excel in an incredibly diverse mission set.

"Our participation in these exercises exemplifies the 2nd BW's mission of providing conventional firepower to combatant commanders for global strike operations anytime, anywhere," Horton said.