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Crew Took Minutes to Hit Saddam Hideout By PAULINE JELINEK .c The Associated Press WASHINTGON (AP) - ``This is the big one'' was the message relayed to a B-1 bomber as it prepared for a mission in western Iraq. Crew members didn't know exactly what that meant. But 12 minutes later, they had diverted from their original plan, sped some 200 miles to Baghdad and dropped four huge bombs on a suspected hiding place of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, his sons and other regime leaders, said bombardier Lt. Col. Fred Swan. ``When we got the word that it was a...

With its combination of long range, high speed and large weapons payload, the B-1 bomber is proving to be a valuable asset during the air campaign over Iraq, according to members of the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing who fly the aircraft. The B-1 has demonstrated its flexibility by flying a number of missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, members of the 405th AEW said during a Pentagon teleconference with reporters this week."We are hitting a wide range of targets," wing commander Col. James Kowalski said March 25 from an undisclosed location in the Central Command area of responsibility. "[We're hitting] suppression...

Lancer crews describe B-1 missions over Iraqby Master Sgt. Scott ElliottAir Force Print News03/25/03 - WASHINGTON -- B-1B Lancers, combining the latest in technology with old-fashioned elbow grease, are taking the air war of Operation Iraqi Freedom to regime and military targets in every inch of that country. RELATED LINKS Operation Iraqi Freedom B-1B Lancer video B-1B Lancer Printable Version Four members of the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing described their mission to Pentagon reporters in a March 25 teleconference. The 405th is currently deployed to an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. "The B-1 is so flexible because of its (long...