21 Years Ago on January 17th
Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:09 pm
Desert Shield became Desert Storm, it's hard to believe that it was that long ago! I was stationed at Barksdale AFB and I remember hearing the B-52's taking off on their "Secret Squirrel" mission - Barksdale to Bagdhad non-stop 35 hours.
From Wikipedia
I wasn't personally involved with the mission, but I've always been proud to say I was a B-52 Crew Chief in the 2nd Bomb Wing. My hat is off to all who made that mission happen. They had to sit and watch the "Classified News Network (CNN)" give all the credit to the F-117's and not be able to say a word about thier historic misson for at least a year. If I'm not mistaken the CALCM's they launched cleared the path so none of the precious F-117's would get scratched. Karma does exist, because BUF's are still flying and dropping bombs and F-117's are static displays in museum's or in the boneyard.
To all of Desert Storm Vets out there, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
From Wikipedia
The 2d Bomb Wing flew what was then the longest combat mission in the history of military aviation at the start of Desert Storm in 1991 when seven B-52s flew a 35-hour mission and, for the time in U.S. Air Force history, fired a devastating barrage of conventional air-launched cruise missiles. The 2d Bomb Wing delivered one-fourth of all U.S. Air Force bombs during Desert Storm.
I wasn't personally involved with the mission, but I've always been proud to say I was a B-52 Crew Chief in the 2nd Bomb Wing. My hat is off to all who made that mission happen. They had to sit and watch the "Classified News Network (CNN)" give all the credit to the F-117's and not be able to say a word about thier historic misson for at least a year. If I'm not mistaken the CALCM's they launched cleared the path so none of the precious F-117's would get scratched. Karma does exist, because BUF's are still flying and dropping bombs and F-117's are static displays in museum's or in the boneyard.
To all of Desert Storm Vets out there, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY and THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!
Re: 21 Years Ago on January 17th
Mon Jan 16, 2012 9:02 pm
The first and ONLY time I ever witnessed a Navy Commander run (in uniform) was when the message came in while we were in formation for Squadron Quarters. We were an RDT&E squadron and our mission took on a whole new light after that (problem solving for fleet weapons systems) We actually got some funding to work with 
Re: 21 Years Ago on January 17th
Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:20 am
Still have the Stars & Stripes news paper from that day! I was deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey with the 39th Special Operations Wing, 7th Special Operations Squadron out of Rhein Main AB, Germany.
Re: 21 Years Ago on January 17th
Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:52 am
I've got a Gulf War 1 embroidered blood chit back patch I was given @ an airshow in 1992.
Re: 21 Years Ago on January 17th
Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:32 pm
ffuries wrote:Still have the Stars & Stripes news paper from that day! I was deployed to Incirlik AB, Turkey with the 39th Special Operations Wing, 7th Special Operations Squadron out of Rhein Main AB, Germany.
That is an extra special F-15C-having just completed its bombing mission!
I was stationed down at Al Kharj, otherwise known as the "Largest Air base in central Saudi Arabia". I was a Crew Chief (Repair and Reclamation at the time) on both the C's and E's there.
Not fun times, but memorable.
JMC