Koa Lightning Published Oct. 23, 2007 By 041007 ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- The B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and aircrews from the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron deployed here from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., are scheduled to fly to Hawaii and back to Guam this week to participate in the latest Koa Lightning exercises. The Spirits will fly over 18 hours and 6,880 nautical miles during the sortie. While in flight they will use their aerial refueling capability and take on fuel from the deployed 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron from the 121st Air Refueling Wing of the Ohio National Guard. The Pacific Command's Koa Lightning exercise is scheduled to consist of coordinating close air support procedures with Joint Tactical Air Controllers from Wheeler Army Air Field, Hawaii. "We have the most advanced aircraft in the world," said Col. Damian McCarthy, 36th Operations Group commander. "But, I assure you having the Tactical Air Control Party or JTAC looking at a target adds great tactical flexibility in how we take the fight to the enemy. "While assigned to the CENTAF AOR I flew close to a hundred combat sorties and on most sorties I worked extensively with JTACS in Iraq and Afghanistan," Colonel McCarthy said. "These Airmen shape the battle space we fight in and this peacetime training of our JTACS and crews is critical to our ability to rapidly support our ground troops engaged in combat." The continuous bomber presence at Andersen AFB is aimed at enhancing regional security, demonstrating U.S. commitment to the Pacific region, and providing integrated training opportunities for deployed Airmen. Besides bolstering security, the rotational deployment increases training opportunities that thoroughly integrate B-2 bomber operations into PACOM's joint and coalition exercises from forward bases such as Andersen. For more information, call the 36th Operations Group Public Affairs Office at (671) 366-2217.