Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

20th Bomb Squadron

Two Barksdale B-52s showcased the 2nd Bomb Wing's Global Power capabilities during a 23-hour mission 23-24 April 1997 as part of the joint aerial mining exercise Blue Harrier '97. Blue Harrier is a United States and NATO training exercise off the coast of Denmark involving navies of NATO-member countries. The 23-hour mission was flown by two 20th Bomb Squadron aircrews. The global power mission covered a distance of about 9,000 miles and required two refuelings. Unlike most of the Global Power missions flown by the wing, U.S. Navy munitions specialists came to Barksdale to load mines on the aircraft before the mission. Normally, the wing's Global Power missions involve 2nd Munitions Squadron and 49th Test Squadron people arming the B-52s with an array of bombs and conventional air launched cruise missiles.

Beginning 16 December 1998, United States Central Command forces launched cruise missile and air attacks against military targets in Iraq. The 20th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Squadron and support personnel from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB are deployed to Naval Station Diego Garcia, British Indian Island Territory.

Elements of the 20th Bomb Squadron deployed to RAF Fairford in support of the 2nd Air Expeditionary Group, which was forward deployed to support NATO operations in Kosovo in early 1999.