Barksdale’s crew chiefs keep the birds in the sky

It’s not pixie dust that turns 185,000 lbs. of machinery into a lethal, combat-ready B-52H Stratofortress prepared to fly at a moments notice, no, it’s a crew chief.With the task of keeping B-52’s in tip-top shape, it’s the responsibility of Barksdale’s crew chiefs to coordinate all necessary

Striking the enemy: WSO’s train to fight

B-52’s and bombs, the two are synonymous when it comes to Barksdale’s global strike capabilities, but what often goes unrecognized, are the men and women inside the plane who actually employ those weapons.Without the skilled Airmen who earn the title of weapons system officer, the lethal B-52H

Wesselhoeft survives WWII U.S. bombing, later joins unit

Barksdale and Minot: Epitome of Interoperability

Two B-52H Stratofortresses from Barksdale and two B-52s from Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, teamed up for an exercise Nov. 21, 2019.

History in the making: final CALCM missile package retired

The sun has set on an integral component of the United States long-range strategic bombing capabilities as the final Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missile (CALCM) package was downloaded and disassembled at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Nov. 20, 2019.Initially beginning design in 1974, the

Once an Airman, always an Airman: retired B-52 crew chief reunites with aircraft

When an Airman takes off their uniform for the final time, the values, experiences and memories don’t just disappear, they are imbedded within them for life. Those memories were entirely evident in the eyes of retired Staff Sgt. Mark James, former Barksdale B-52H Stratofortress crew chief, who was

MacDill broadens global strike

When carrying out the nation’s top mission, there is no room for failure. The nation relies on the capabilities of its armed forces to ensure that freedoms endure. Strategic deterrence is the responsibility of Airmen from each of the Air Force’s major commands and Air Mobility Command’s role is to

Bomber Task Force 20-1 Completes Mission in Europe

On the evening of the October 10, 2019, four B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers from the 2nd Bomb Wing departed Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, enroute to a month-long deployment at RAF Fairford, England. While based at RAF Fairford, the bombers, air crew, maintainers and support personnel

Global Strike this week: Capability, professionalism and boldness

The men and women of Air Force Global Strike Command have not only had a busy week, but have repeatedly showcased the importance of rapid deployment to conduct combat operations.

Bomber Task Force Deploys to Europe

B-52 Stratofortresses from the 2nd Bomb Wing, here, departed tonight for a Bomber Task Force deployment to Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford, England. While there, aircrews will conduct integration and interoperability training with European allies and partners in the region.