Posted on 03/21/2011 12:19:12 PM PDT by Fennie
Six hero pilots return home safe and sound from a bombing mission to Libya which saw them in the cockpit for an incredible 25 hours.
Three B-2 Spirit bombers, piloted by two men each, made it back after the 11,418-mile round trip from the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri - where they are kept in special hangars - to Libya, where they hit targets on forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi and back again.
At $2.1bn, they are the most expensive warplanes in the world and rarely leave their climate-controlled hangars. But when it does, the B-2 bomber makes a spectacularly effective start to a war - including during this weekend's aerial attack on Libya's air defences.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Once a squadron came over from Louisiana all the way to RAF Bentwaters, England in a non stop flight. They each had two 600 gallon wing tanks and I believe they had to refuel at least once.
And, remember that the A-10 had no auto pilot back then so it was hands on stick the entire way. Those pilots could not wait to get out of those planes.
The B-2 bomber can carry up to eighty 500 lb (230 kg) class JDAM “smart” bombs, or sixteen 2,400 lb (1,100 kg) B83 nuclear bombs.
It can deliver its full payload in a single pass and uses an advanced GPS Aided Targeting System (GATS) complete with a passive electronically scanned array APQ-181 radar to correct GPS errors of targets, in order to achieve greater accuracy than laser-guided dumb bombs.
They would land at Diego Garcia after their bombing run, and another crew would fly them back the next day. They had erected a few shelters on Diego Garcia as well, where they would house the B2's while they were there.
Yes, they did use Diego Garcia but they also flew sorties out of Missouri, including one 50 hour flight.
Bravo, well said.
El-Gadhafi has had this coming since Lockerbie Pan Am flight of 86. We should have declared war upon him, and killed him then. Now, it’s a bit delayed, but he still deserves it, as he’s a total POS and needs killin.
So, go US Military, go. Remember, Gadhafi was behind the bombing of a German club that killed US service men. So, get some vengeance.
As for Obama? WTF, the guy is a complete tool, and his words, compared to his actions, are a liability to his own party. What a maroon, he’s handled this all wrong, and he’s a HUGE hypocrite for what he’s said about Bush. Nonetheless, Obama, PLEASE don’t fu#k this up and get our troops killed.
Obama is going to go on TV when he gets back, some snarky like the View or Ellen Degenerous dike lady show, to talk about going to war from Rio.
Spain gave permission this time, unlike 25 years go.
Funny! they have a food prep area for those long trips. Microwave, coffee warmer etc.
George W Bush - Shock and Awe.
Barrack Obama - Dazed and Confused!
Thank you Mack from Future Weapons.
Considering Clinton used the B-2 in Bosnia and they've been used in Iraq (flown from Diego Garcia) I don't see why we're supposed to be impressed by their use in Libya.
Waste of assets in an asshat operation.
My son was in Operation Desert Shield out Of California. Flight deck Crew Chief at that time. Later he operated within the Psyops Plane, though not much he could share about that or his missions.
Thank you for your service..very much.
B-2’s flew missions to Bosnia for Clinton. That’s every bit as far Libya. Nothing new.
Please. Was China impressed when Clinton mistakenly bombed their embassy in Bosnia? Was it impressed when B-2s were used to bomb Bosnia? Impressed when the B-2s were used to bomb Iraq?
Keeping these guys and gals sharp is far more important than any political agenda... Obama won;t be president forever...
You're insane. Training is justification for Libya? Obama's probably got 6 yrs left in office. If we survive it will feel like forever just like Carter's 4 yrs.
More important than a political agenda? It's a political agenda that got us into this Libyan civil war. All U.S. presidents owe the American People clear justification for use of military force and a specific goal.
Calling for Gaddafi to go, dithering for weeks on a plan, taking time to go to the UN but not the U.S. Congress... is failed leadership. Our role in the mission was reported by Fox News Radio as "logistical" but within the first day we had B-2 dropping bombs and Tomohawk missiles in the air.
The mission was a "no fly zone" and yet we've seen expansion to bombing armor units and other ground war military targets. Now the mission has creeped to undermining Gaddafi's military capability and an attempt to stop him from retaking rebel-held cities, rebels who are poorly identified.
Your dear leader says we're not picking "winners and losers" while working hard to tip the balance against Gaddafi's effort to keep his nation together. Obama's gone from 'Gaddafi must go' to 'Gaddafi can stay if he stops attacking the rebel held cities.' Huh?
Not quite true.
Raytheon has delivered 2000 Block IV tomahawks that can be re-targeted in flight -
Tomahawk Block IV’s technologies provide a tactical capability while reducing acquisition, operation and support costs. It employs a two-way satellite datalink that enables a strike controller to flex the missile in flight to preprogrammed alternate targets or to redirect it to a new target. This targeting flexibility includes the capability to loiter over the battlefield and await a more critical target
Press release here -
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.