A B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., lands at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.
The deployment represents a new rotation of aircrews, maintenance personnel and aircraft to Guam, according to the 36th Wing Public Affairs office.
Airmen and women assigned to the 69th EBS arrived on Guam to replace the 23rd EBS in support of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s continuous bomber presence mission.
Since March 2004, Andersen AFB has hosted the Continuous Bomber Presence (CBP) mission, which is designed to enhance regional security and provides reassurance to allies and partners that the United States is capable of defending its national security interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
The Airmen arriving from the 69th EBS will be stationed in Guam for the next six months to conduct CBP operations and training.
The bomber deployment enhances regional security and underscores the U.S. commitment to the Western Pacific.
The addition of B-52 bombers to Guam gives the PACOM commander short-notice global strike and strategic engagement capabilities that otherwise would not exist in the region, officials stated.
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades.
It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since the 1950s. The bomber is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons, and has a typical combat range of more than 8,800 miles (14,080 km) without aerial refueling.
Image Credits: U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Divine Cox
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