Two B-52s from Barksdale AFB, LA., completed a 44-hour, nonstop mission to Australia and back, according to a US Strategic Command release. “These flights are one of the many ways the United States demonstrates its commitment to a stable and peaceful Indo-Asia Pacific region,” said Adm. Cecil Haney, STRATCOM commander. During the mission, which concluded on July 2, the B-52s of Barksdale’s 2nd Bomb Wing integrated with Australian airmen on the ground, dropped inert conventional weapons on the Delamere Air Weapons Range in northern Australia, and performed a low approach over RAAF Base Tindal, states the release. The base is north of the range. Since 2010, the Air Force has periodically deployed B-52s to Australia for short training stints. B-52s have been frequent world travelers this year. For example, in June, three B-52s from Minot AFB, N.D., operated for a while from RAF Fairford, Britain, supporting NATO training exercises in the Baltic Sea area.
Walking the flight line of Blackhawk attack helicopters and American troops on rotation at the “MK” air base in Romania, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III highlighted the important strategic value of one of NATO’s newest members Oct. 20 ahead of NATO defense ministerial meetings in Brussels Oct. 21-22. In…