2ND OPERATIONS GROUP


MISSION: “Develop and provide combat-ready B-52 aircrew in support of nuclear deterrence and global operations SAFE…SECURE…EFFECTIVE…to support the President of the United States and Combatant Commanders.”

VISION: “American Airmen with special trust and responsibility for the most powerful weapons in our Nation’s arsenal…an elite, highly disciplined team.”

Priorities: Mission, Airmen, Pride



ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Commander in Chief Installation Excellence Certificate of Recognition
  • Brigadier General Castle Award/Fairchild Trophy
  • AFGSC Aviation Resource Management (ARM) Award
  • AFGSC General Jumper Award for Excellence in Integration Warfighting
  • AFGSC Chief of Safety Aircrew Distinction Award
(Current as of September 2018)


Related Articles

  • 96th BS Honors retired Col. Corbisiero

    96 BS honors retired Col. Corbisiero

    Airmen from the 96th Bomb Squadron conducted a funeral flyover in memory of retired Air Force Col. John V. (“Giovanni”) Corbisiero, during his internment July 31, 2020, at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Colo.
  • Senior Airman Kaid Hackler, 96th Aircraft Maintenance Unit aerospace propulsion journeyman, poses for a photo below the engines of a B-52H Stratofortress at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., July 23, 2020.

    Keeping his feet on the ground to put planes in the sky

    The feeling of the rumble of the B-52H Stratofortress is a highlight for some maintainers who work tirelessly to keep them flying, but for one Airman, the excitement in the pit of his stomach was replaced by an inexplicable pain.
  • A digital art piece that has the pilot wings and the title of the article 'A legacy of wings'.

    A legacy of wings

    Alone, with a few weeks’ worth of clothes and food packed into his 1991 Nissan Maxima, 16-year-old Nathan Cooper made the two-day drive from Nevada to Montana to enroll in flying lessons out of the local airport on the weekends. At the time, learning to fly was a passion he grew up with, but it hadn't yet dawned on him that this trip would end up being his start down the road of a family tradition.
  • Airmen from the 96th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, prepare a B-52H Stratofortress prior to take off at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, during a Bomber Task Force mission, June 16, 2020.

    Bombers project power from the Last Frontier, once again

    He who holds Alaska holds the world. U.S. Army General Billy Mitchell first uttered those words in his 1935 testimony to Congress. Considered by many to be one the founding fathers of the U.S. Air Force, the World War I pilot declared what military aviators in the far north now know to be true—Alaska’s strategic location is second to none.
  • A B-52H Stratofortress deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., prepares for take off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, for a Bomber Task Force mission June 16, 2020. This Bomber Task Force brought B-52H Stratofortress bombers and 2nd Bomb Wing Airmen to the Indo-Pacific theater to test their ability to integrate and operate from a forward location. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lillian Miller)

    B-52s demonstrate bilateral, joint force integration in Indo-Pacific

    Two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers integrated with the Koku-Jieitai, or Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) fighters and U.S. Navy E/A-18G Growlers over the Sea of Japan, June, 17.
  • A B-52H Stratofortress deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., arrives at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to conduct Bomber Task Force operations, June 14, 2020. Strategic bomber missions demonstrate the credibility of our forces to address a diverse and uncertain security environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lillian Miller)

    B-52s deploy to Alaska, demonstrate global agility

    U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers returned to the Indo-Pacific region June 14 to conduct bomber task force operations out of Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
  • Airman 1st Class David S. Kyambadde, 2nd Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment maintainer, operates a sewing machine to sew face masks at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., April 16, 2020. All Airmen of the 2nd OSS AFE shop learned to sew as part of their technical training to repair aircrew equipment including parachutes, flight suits and other various equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob B. Wrightsman)

    AFE face-off with COVID by making masks

    As Barksdale’s health protection measures increased in response to COVID-19, face masks are now required to be worn inside the base exchange, commissary and other base facilities. With Airmen being restricted to shop only on base, the need for face masks has increased.
  • An 11th Bomb Squadron student wears a patch at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Dec. 4, 2019. The mascot of the 11th BS is Mr. Jiggs and a popular slogan is “Dressed to Kill”. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Airman 1st Class Jacob B. Wrightsman)

    Preparing the future: 11th BS continues to train

    With the responsibility of training the next generation of warfighters, the 11th Bomb Squadron is entrusted with preparing new B-52H Stratofortress aircrew to face any and every adversary. So, it’s fitting that the 11th BS is continuing it’s training in the face of the current global pandemic, COVID-19.
  • Where every sortie begins and ends

    Where every sortie begins and ends

    Barksdale is home to the more than 65-year-old backbone of the United States’ strategic bomber force, the B-52H Stratofortress. There are numerous components that all work together to ensure this aircraft can take flight at any given time, but one office in particular is charged with the responsibility of ensuring the B-52s have a safe place to land and take off. This office is the 2nd Operations Support Squadron airfield management office, who work day in and day out to provide the 2nd Bomb Wing with a reliable, capable and competent airfield environment.
  • Karl Malone, NBA Hall of Famer, stands next to a B-52H Stratofortress during a visit at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Feb. 5, 2020. Malone flew a training sortie with the 96th Bomb Squadron during his visit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob B. Wrightsman)

    NBA HOF’er Karl Malone visits Barksdale

    NBA Hall of Famer and Louisiana native, Karl Malone, toured Barksdale during a visit to the base Feb. 5-6, 2020. A two time NBA MVP, 14-time NBA all-star and second ranked all time point scorer, Malone spent time with Airmen, toured facilities and even took a ride in a B-52H Stratofortress.
  • Welcome to the BUFF

    Welcome to the BUFF

    Nearly 30 Airmen sit in a small auditorium, all wearing in green flight suits. Most of them are quiet, waiting for something to happen. They are surrounded by white walls, covered in pictures of aircraft, symbols of old military units and Honor Boards. Suddenly a loud voice yells “Room, tench hut!” and everyone stands as a new man in the same green flight suit walks in and tells everyone to sit down. “Welcome Class 20-1, welcome to the B-52,” announced Lt. Col. Richard Ruliffson, 11th Bomb Squadron commander.
  • Capt. Tim “Vice” Nichols, 20th Bomb Squadron instructor pilot, inspects a B-52H Stratofortress after a flight at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Nov. 21, 2019.

    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.
  • Airmen from the 2nd Operational Support Squadron air traffic control tower get together for their monthly first Friday team dinner in Bossier City, Louisiana, Sept. 20, 2019.

    Air power from the tower

    A proficient and highly functional air traffic control tower is a cornerstone to the ever ready fleet of B-52H Stratofortresses here at Barksdale, but the cornerstone of the air traffic control tower is the cohesion of the Airmen who work atop the tower.
  • Lt. Col. Esposito takes the first swing at a wall while making way for a new datalink center

    2nd OSS demolish barriers for new datalink center

    The 2nd Operations Support Squadron began taking steps forward in the Integrated Operations Center for a datalink operation center Aug 27, 2019.
  • 96th BS remembers the flight around the world

    96th BS remembers the flight around the world

    Over twenty five years ago, Aug 1, 1994, the 96th Bomb Squadron flew a mission that took two B-52H Stratofortresses around the world. The mission had the two bombers, Storm 1 and Storm 2, hit a target in the Middle East and return to Barksdale by circling the earth, proving that the B-52 can hit any target in the world without having to stop for fuel.
  • Aircrew flight equipment: The right equipment for a global mission

    Aircrew flight equipment: The right equipment for a global mission

    Airmen with the 2nd Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment flight line section work around the clock to revise, equip and maintain modules designed to bring aircrew back home in case of survival situation. Survival modules are a self-sustaining lifeline designed provide the aircrew with 72-hours of supplies and tools needed to survive in any environment around the globe until the members are rescued.
  • Maj. John R. Blankenship, a B-52 Stratofortress pilot with the 96th Bomb Squadron, his wife Maj. Natasha E. Blankenship, a C-17 Globemaster III pilot with the 183rd Airlift Squadron in Jackson, Mississippi, and their year and a half old son, Dane, enjoy the Barksdale Defenders of Liberty Air Show at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., May 18, 2019. Over 80,000 spectators from the Ark-La-Tex region May 18 and 19, 2019 to witness a full weekend of military and civilian aircraft performances and displays. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Jacob B. Wrightsman)

    Love of flying: a rare reunion for pilot couple

    The Barksdale Defenders of Liberty Air and Space Show, brought together over 80,000 families and spectators from the Ark-La-Tex region May 18 and 19, 2019 to witness a full weekend of military and civilian aircraft performances and displays. For one Air Force family, a trip to the air show held more significance than just a weekend of entertainment.
  • After returning from a deployment, 1st Lt. Tyler Johnson, 96th Bomb Squadron unit deployment manager, poses for a photo with his wife at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Jan. 16, 2019. While deployed, the squadron flew deterrence missions and conducted a variety of joint missions with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force), Republic of Korea Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Lillian Miller)

    Barksdale Airmen return home

    Airmen from the 96th Bomb Squadron and the 2nd Maintenance Squadron returned after a six-month deployment to Anderson Air Force Base, Guam in support of U.S. Pacific Command’s Continuous Bomber Presence.
  • Aircraft and Airmen from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, arrive to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., for a hurricane evacuation Sept. 11, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sydney Campbell)

    Managing a Hurricane Evacuation

    Bombers, fighters and refuelers filled the flight line as they seek refuge from force of nature named Hurricane Florence. After the all-clear from their home bases, they departed just as organized as they arrived.
  • Returning Home: the moment they met

    Returning Home: the moment they met

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