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5th Bomb Wing Bomber Barons, maintainers push forward to Pacific

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica McConnell
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  More than 200 5th Bomb Wing Airmen and six B-52H Stratofortresses left Minot Air Force Base, N.D., for their deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Dec. 2, 2011, as part of the ongoing U.S. Pacific Command's Continuous Bomber Presence.

The rotation of U.S. Air Force bombers to the Western Pacific has been occurring since March 2004 as U.S. PACOM adjusted its force posture to maintain a prudent deterrent capability. The current unit deployment demonstrates the U.S. commitment to the security and stability of the Asia-Pacific region. The 5th BW has routinely deployed to Guam several times since 2004.

"The continuous bomber presence in the Pacific is essential to national security," said Col. Max Mitchell, 5th BW vice commander. "This mission is important because it enables us to demonstrate our capabilities to both deter our enemies and assure our allies."

By moving bomber units forward to Guam, the warbirds are supporting U.S. PACOM's capabilities to promote security and stability in the region.

It also provides unique training opportunities for our aircrews when they integrate into U.S. PACOM joint/coalition exercises, operations and training.

The rotational bomber presence will continue for as long as required by U.S. PACOM, and individual unit rotations will be deployed in line with the normal length of an Air Expeditionary Force rotation.

Airmen from the 23rd Bomb Squadron, 5th Operations Support Squadron, 5th Maintenance Group, 5th Maintenance Squadron, 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron are slated to deploy for approximately four months.