Military

93rd Bomb Squadron

The Air Force Reserve became involved in the bomber business when the 917th Wing's 93rd Bomb Squadron was activated in December 1993. The unit has 8 B-52H model aircraft, 12 aircrews and about 220 support personnel. The unit flew its first flight in February 1994 and became fully operational on 1 June 1995. The primary task of the unit is to train for its wartime mission of strategic attack, air-to-surface suppression of enemy air defenses, and aerial minelaying. The unit supports theater commanders-in-chief in their wartime taskings and trains using the same conventional weapons, tactics, and procedures as its active duty counterparts.

Reservists and aircraft from Air Force Reserve Command play an integral role in air operations in support of the Air Force's expeditionary aerospace force. Two B-52H's with two crews from the 917th Wing, Barksdale AFB, La., pulled alert duty at home station during AEF 7.

On 18 July 1995 reservists in Barksdale's 93rd Bomb Squadron flew the first global power, global reach mission by an Air Force Reserve B-52 crew. Seven squadron members made Air Force Reserve and Air Combat Command history when they joined a 5th Bomb Wing B-52 crew from Minot AFB, N.D., to fly the first active and reserve force long-range bombing mission across the Atlantic Ocean. Launching from their home bases, the two aircraft joined over the Atlantic to complete the 12-hour flight culminating with a bomb run in northern England near the Scottish border. After the mission, the aircraft landed at Royal Air Force Fairford, England, and participated in the International Air Tattoo. The two-day event, billed as the "Victory Airshow," celebrated the 50th anniversary of VE Day.

Four B-52 Stratofortress bombers and 175 reservists from Barksdale deployed to the United Kingdom in June 1998 to take part in a series of NATO exercises. The Air Force Reserve Command contingent from Barksdale consisted of members of the 917th Wing's 93rd Bomb Squadron, maintenance and support organizations. They operated out of Royal Air Force Fairford, west of London, and began deploying 06 June 1998 and returned by 30 June 1998. In the first exercise, the B-52s took part in Baltic Sea Operations. BALTOPS is a joint maritime operation where B-52s simulated dropping sea mines in conjunction with U.S. Navy and NATO sea forces.

During another NATO exercise, Central Enterprise, the Barksdale reservists practiced integrating B-52 operations with other NATO air forces. Several U.S. units participated in the exercise, including a B-1 Lancer unit from Dyess AFB, Texas, which also launched missions from RAF Fairford. The 7th Expeditionary Operations Group wrapped-up its three-week deployment 25 June 1998 as the NATO exercise Central Enterprise ended. The 7th EOG brought together six Dyess B-1s and their 9th Bomb Squadron crews and four Air Force Reserve B-52Hs from the 93rd Bomb Squadron, based at Barksdale AFB, La.

Two B-52 Stratofortress bombers and 103 reservists deployed 21-22 March 1999 to Andersen AFB, Guam to participate in Tandem Thrust '99. The Air Force Reserve people were from maintenance and support organizations of the 917th Wing's 93rd Bomb Squadron. The exercise was designed to bring the United States and Australia together as a combined task force. It involved combined military operations at sea, in the air and on land, and trained participants in crisis action planning and execution for contingency response operations.

The 93rd Bomb Squadron deployed a B-52 to Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, on 18 July 2001 to take part in Global Power 2001. Global Power missions are Air Combat Command tasked bombers out of the continental United States on long-range missions. The purpose of the mission is to execute the long-range strike capability of the bomber force and demonstrate both the responsiveness and flexibility of the U.S. Air Force and America's ability to respond quickly to any crisis. Global Power missions provide bomber units with practice in over-water navigation, joint operations, foreign country coordination, non-standard mission planning and range activities, international flight planning, and physiological aspects of long duration flights. To execute the mission, the B-52 crew took off from Barksdale and flew to Anderson AFB, Guam, continued their mission to Osan and returned to Barksdale on July 25.

During the Korean War the 93rd bomb squadron, 19th bomb group, FEAF was stationed at Kadena AFB, Okinawa. The 93rd Bomb Squadron operated the B-52H from August 1961 to February 1963 while assigned to the 4239th Strategic Wing at Kincheloe AFB, MI.