First B-2 Aviator in combat set to retire Published Oct. 4, 2010 By Senior Airman Torey Griffith 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Five O'Niners have been making history since the secret inception of the 509th Composite Group, Dec. 17, 1944. From the days of Strategic Air Command to the current Air Force Global Strike Command, the 509th has played an integral role in the sovereignty of our nation. Delivering the first and only nuclear weapons, advancements in aerial in-flight refueling, as well as the famous Arc Light missions in Vietnam are among the contributions the 509th has made toward the liberty of all Americans. The 509th Bomb Wing made history once again March 24, 1999, as the B-2, once dubbed a multi-billion-dollar public relations nightmare, penetrated protected enemy airspace and opened its weapons bay doors, unleashing precision-guided bombs on targets in Yugoslavia, the first night of Operation Allied Force. Col. Eric Single, Chief of the Global Strike Division of the Secretary of the Air Force, was commander of the 393rd Bomb Squadron at Whiteman that night the B-2 first tasted combat. He was also in command of the mission. From the flight deck of the Spirit of Mississippi, then-Lt. Col. Single and Maj. Steve Basham, accompanied by Maj. Steve Sicking and Maj. Darrell Davis in the Spirit of Pennsylvania, proved the B-2 to be the most lethal aerial platform on the planet. Much work had been put into transforming the B-2 from an air show oddity into a battle-proven weapons platform. When the Spirit of Missouri arrived at Whiteman Dec. 3, 1993, it was still in the test and production stage of development. It wasn't until April of 1997 that the B-2 reached initial operational capability. Thanks to fliers like Colonel Single the B-2 demonstrated early operational capability. Once outfitted with precision weapons the B-2 became even more lethal by combining stealthiness with long range with precision strike. These attributes made the B-2 the weapons systems of choice for Operation Allied Force. According to Rebecca Grant's book, "The B-2 Goes to War," (IRIS press, 2001) the next step was to "persuade air commanders, CINCs and their staffs that the bombers were something they could use." She went on to say that the B-2 pilots had to become advocates and spokesmen for their controversial new weapon system. Not everyone was a believer that a bomber could be stealthy and effective. "(Our) main mission was to help 'sell' the airplane," said Colonel Single, in the book. "We had one summer where we worked every weekend, both days, flying air shows." One major selling point occurred in 1998, when the B-2 deployed to Guam for training after North Korea launched a test missile over Japan and into the northern Pacific. The extensive amount of flying and bombing performed during this first operational deployment of the B-2 earned the 509th an enormous amount of experience that flying air shows on the weekends would never bring. The Airmen united to overcome obstacles they had never encountered before: sand, humidity and long, simultaneous sorties that degraded low observable capabilities and tested the performance of the craft mechanically. The 509er's performance in Guam helped them land the B-2 its first combat assignment. The Spirits of Mississippi and Pennsylvania departed Whiteman in the middle of the night on March 23 and followed established air traffic control routes to the Mediterranean where they "stealthed up," and began their choreographed run into the heavily defended Serbian airspace. The mission was to destroy military targets in an effort to convince Slobodan Miloŝević, then president of Serbia to withdraw forces from Kosovo, where they had been murdering thousands of civilians in an "ethnic cleansing." Each B-2 delivered 16 Joint Direct Attack Munitions precisely on target before heading back to Whiteman, completing the mission in just over 31 hours. The NATO-led air campaign against Miloŝević lasted 78 days. B-2s flew a total of 49 sorties, dropped more than 650 JDAMs with an accuracy rate of 84 percent. This unprecedented accuracy rate proved the B-2's capability, regardless of distance, weather or air defense systems. Colonel Single went on to become the 5th Bomb Wing Operations Group Commander at Minot AFB, N.D., Vice Wing Commander of the 509th in 2005 and then on to Washington, where he will retire from the SAF/AQPN position at the Pentagon Oct. 1. "Colonel Single is a great man and we were fortunate to have him in the Air Force and as a part of the B-2 and B-52 programs," said Colonel Basham. "We will do well to keep him close to the defense of the nation for many years to come. "[He is] one of the best, if not the best instructor I've ever flown with. His demeanor in the aircraft matched his professionalism displayed on the ground. You could constantly rely on him for anything. He has a quiet humility that makes him easily approachable," said Colonel Basham. Col. (ret) Tony Imondi, a former B-2 Instructor Pilot, was among the first instructor pilots who brought the B-2 from Edwards AFB, Calif. to Whiteman. He along with Lt. Col. (ret) John Belanger initiated the training program at Whiteman and trained all the initial Cadre Pilots. Colonel Imondi was also the Operations Group commander for the B-2's combat debut. "Colonel Single is a true warrior - he leads by example and never loses his cool," said Colonel Imondi. "Having mastered the skills of piloting, Colonel Single was one of the very first Bomber Pilots to be selected for Weapons School. It was at the Weapons School that Colonel Single made his name and where his combat skills were honed. "He came to the B-2 program with a wealth of experience in war fighting and long-range strike. As a commander and flight leader, there is no one better. His cool demeanor coupled with his accurate trigger finger make him the ideal choice to lead any unit into combat. Colonel Single is an extraordinary officer who completely understands how to project true global power." Colonel Imondi worked alongside Colonel Single as the B-2 moved through the stages of its capabilities, as it went from testing to full operational capability. "Colonel Single was instrumental in transitioning the 393rd Bomb Squadron and 509th Bomb Wing from a safety-minded startup operation to a fully operational combat wing," said Colonel Imondi. "He was particularly successful on focusing the wing on weapons delivery tactics. His leadership overflowed to the flight line where he projected a warrior spirit into the maintenance operations, leading to significant increases in B-2 Mission Capable rates. "Simply stated - Colonel Single is a warrior-leader with the perfect blend of mission and people skills. He was always on point leading the way no matter the challenges - he is respected up and down the line and respected as one of our very best leaders," Colonel Imondi said. Mr. Imondi's most memorable moments with the Colonel pertain to Operation Allied Force in 1999. "Watching Colonel Single prepare for and execute the B-2's first combat sortie was clearly the high point," Mr. Imondi said. "He was destined to lead the B-2s into combat from the first day he arrived at the 509th. He portrayed the warrior ethos in everything he did. His leadership was infectious and spread throughout the wing. "On the first night of the war he came prepared for combat to include bringing a lawn chair with him to sleep in during the flight to Kosovo. Colonel Single was our top aviator, our top commander, and our combat leader during that time. I relied on him to set the example and tone for the entire wing - and he didn't disappoint," Mr. Imondi said. Colonel Eric Single retires today after 29 faithful years of service to his country. The men and women on the 509th Bomb wing salute him and his family for their significant contributions to our Air Force. His accomplishments will live on in Air Force History.