8th Air Force today?

[Pat Carry]

Been wondering this for quite awhile, is there still an 8th Air Force active today within the USAF?

[Snake45]

Wikipedia says Yes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Air_Force

[RAMC181]

Yup, still going. Currently part of AF Global Strike Command and headquartered at Barksdale AFB: http://www.8af.af.mil

8AF operates AFGSC's bombers, while 20AF operates the ICBMs.

[JohnB]

Oddly, Dyess and its B-1s are not part of the 8th AF, they're still part of ACC and not Global Strike Command. Although B-1s are numerically the largest part of the bomber force, they are no longer nuke capable.

[Snake45]

I was surprised to learn the other day that MO ANG is now operating B-2s.

[sandiego89]

I was surprised to learn the other day that MO ANG is now operating B-2s.

It may be a bit of a surprise, but the air national guard is a great way to keep experienced flight and ground crews involved on a weapons system. Quite common on may airframes, and many have a sister active duty squadron to share resources, and in some cases pool aricraft. Some great Americans in the guard that get tired of the moves and some of the BS found in the active duty USAF (oh there can be some politics in the National Guard as well) so great way to keep the experince level up. Some of the high-flight time crews are ANG.

[Snake45]

I was surprised to learn the other day that MO ANG is now operating B-2s.

It may be a bit of a surprise, but the air national guard is a great way to keep experienced flight and ground crews involved on a weapons system. Quite common on may airframes, and many have a sister active duty squadron to share resources, and in some cases pool aricraft. Some great Americans in the guard that get tired of the moves and some of the BS found in the active duty USAF (oh there can be some politics in the National Guard as well) so great way to keep the experince level up. Some of the high-flight time crews are ANG.

Oh I know all that. I'm second-generation ANG, and my son is third-gen, and is currently in Oklahoma in T-6 flight training. It's just that back in my Dad's day, and mine, the ANG operated a lot of second-hand and obsolescent stuff, not the first-line goodies, so I'm always a little surprised when I see Guard flying the "first team" birds.