B-52 bomber crews from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, N.D. but deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam practiced their combat skills during Koa Lightning, a US Pacific Command-led exercise, in which they flew four long-duration training missions from Guam to Hawaii. The exercise “pitted four F-15s against two B-52s escorted by four F-16s,” said Maj. Jim Jagodzinski, 23rd EBS mission planning cell chief. “The B-52s had targets to strike, and the fighters were attempting to ‘shoot’ them down.” The B-52s also coordinated with forward air controllers in Hawaii to deliver simulated Joint Direct Attack Munitions. The 18-hour sorties from Andersen to Hawaii required two KC-135s—from Air Force Reserve Command’s 434th Air Refueling Wing—to provide air refuelings, providing extra loiter time in the weapons employment area.
Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. Lawmakers often opt to keep Air Force systems that bring jobs to their districts, which complicates matters as the service looks to modernize and ditch certain platforms.…