Bombers complete long-range exercise with Australia

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Three B-52 Stratofortresses completed 13-hour flights from here to an Australian training range Sept. 21 and 22 to train for long-range strike missions. 

In addition to the long-duration flights, the aircrews from the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron teamed with Australian joint terminal air controllers to conduct close air support training. 

First Lt. Jason Duhon, 96th EBS B-52 Stratofortress electronic warfare officer, said the crews flew to the Australian range and the JTACs directed the pilots in bombing practice targets. He said the Green Lightning exercise provided an opportunity to train others on the capabilities of the B-52. 

"Any training we can participate in [with those] outside of the Air Force is good," he said. "It helps us as a community to interact with other forces and also helps with those we work with, so they can be trained on how we operate. There are a lot of forces out there, which aren't really familiar with working with B-52s, even though we have a long history." 

Green Lightning exercises and similar missions are a part of the U.S. Pacific Command's Continuous Bomber Presence in the Asia-Pacific region. They provide a variety of training scenarios for aircrews flying the missions. 

"Green Lightning was my longest sortie," Lieutenant Duhon said. "It helps familiarize you with being in the aircraft. It gave me a chance to monitor other crew components. By doing so, it made me a better aviator in my opinion. I get to listen and learn while we accomplish the mission." 

The lieutenant said his first long duration flight was valuable. 

"It was definitely a long sortie, but it was worth it in the end," he said. "I learned how other coalition forces operate, and I learned a good deal about crew coordination on a long sortie."
 
First Lt. Christopher Gregory, 96th EBS B-52 Stratofortress co-pilot, agreed that participating in the Green Lightning mission provided important training. 

"As a new co-pilot, a lot of the training sorties we get back home are shorter training missions," Lieutenant Gregory said. "Out here, we are able to tailor them differently to get a variety of training we need for different sorties and different instructors." 

Lieutenant Gregory said he enjoys supporting the Continuous Bomber Presence by flying missions like Green Lightning. 

"I enjoy the opportunity to get a training mission that is different than the standard training mission," he said. "By flying these missions, we are able to fly locations outside the local area and work with other units." 

Prior to a flying mission, a mission planning cell compiles the information required for pilots to complete the mission. 

"My part as the mission planning cell team chief was to provide the aircrew flying the mission a safe, flyable plan, and to also provide them with the mission materials required to execute that plan," said Capt. Paul Goossen, 96th EBS B-52 Stratofortress instructor pilot. "It took about two days to prepare the briefing." 

The mission planning cell develops the plan by thinking through the flight and provides potential solutions to contingencies that could arise while the mission is taking place. 

"When you are planning a mission to an unfamiliar place, the mission planning cell has to be the expert on the rules and regulations associated with the area of operation," Captain Goossen said. "You have to know how you are going to get that crew into the airspace, operate legally and safely within that airspace, and then get them back home over a long distance." 

This was the third time Captain Goossen participated in a Green Lightning exercise, but it was his first as a mission planner. 

"I feel a great deal of personal job satisfaction knowing that I have helped the Pacific Air Forces commander with his goals in demonstrating support for our coalition allies, as well as deterring potential adversaries in the area," he said. 

The 96th EBS will redeploy to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Sept. 26 after their sister unit, the 20th EBS, arrived to continue the Continuous Bomber Presence mission.