ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- The 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron recently returned from a six-month deployment to Guam supporting the U.S. Pacific Command’s Continuous Bomber Presence mission.
With our Nation’s pivot to the Pacific, the B-1 bomber deployed to PACOM after spending more than 10 years deployed to the U.S. Central Command. Along with the expertise and hard work of the 34th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit, the 34th EBS were able to execute 278 sorties and 71 Higher Headquarter Directed missions – exceeding the previous sortie rate of the B-52 Stratofortress unit by 30 percent and the previous three year HHD mission rate average B-52 units executed by 26 percent.
“From the time B-1 units were ordered home from the CENTCOM area of responsibility, our operations tempo has continued at an amazing pace,” said Lt. Col. Seth Spanier, 34th EBS commander. “We’ve participated in numerous exercises, higher headquarters missions, and most recently, our successful deployment to the PACOM AOR.”
The deployment began with PACOM’s first tri-bomber HHD mission comprising of a B-1B Lancer, B-52 Stratofortress and a B-2 Spirit.
“The simultaneous employment and integration of all three bomber types in the Pacific allowed us to demonstrate the amazing capabilities each aircraft brings to the fight,” Spanier said. “All are impressive long range strikers, but each excels differently in different tactical environments. The tri-bomber mission allowed us to demonstrate these unique capabilities to friend and foe alike.”
In their continued efforts to demonstrate a commitment to deterrence, offer assurance to America’s allies, and strengthen regional security in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, the 34th EBS took advantage of the unique opportunities presented. This included training focused on Stand Off Weapons with dynamic Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile targeting, War at Sea, Close Air Support, Aerial Maritime Mining, Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance, Surface Attack, and Dissimilar Air Combat Training.
Spanier added that the several large scale exercises they participated in allowed them to practice detailed integration and high-end tactics with the military forces of our allies and partners against potential adversaries in contested and degraded operational environments.
“Exercises like VALIANT SHIELD and KEEN SWORD are a key component in improving both joint service and allied interoperability in the region,” Spanier said. “These types of exercises help ensure our lethality in the next potential conflict scenario.”
The deployment also marked the closest approach by a bomber to the Korean Demilitarized Zone in history. This was in response to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s largest nuclear test.
“Amongst all of the U.S. combat power in the Pacific, the Commander of U.S. PACOM directly chose the 34th EBS B-1B sorties as his response to this nuclear test in order to send a message that further tests will not be accepted,” Spanier said. “This is the quintessential piece of nuclear deterrence - - messaging to a potential adversary that their nuclear threats will not be tolerated. DPRK officials took notice of the B-1B flights and no further nuclear test has occurred since.”
As of now, the baton has been passed to the 9th EBS from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, continuing the B-1 presence in the PACOM AOR. The 34th EBS B-1s have returned from their deployment and are outfitting the fleet with the Sustainment-Block 16 upgrade making the combat effectiveness of the B-1B even more lethal and precise.
“The B-1 is a power house that can endure a lot,” said Maj. Joshua Parker, a pilot assigned to the 34th EBS. “With the work load it executes, the B-1s continue to excel home station and abroad while undergoing necessary modifications and upgrades to keep them combat ready. With the SB-16 advancement, our B-1s will have even greater combat capability.”
The B-1s will continue to provide support and accomplish missions across the globe.
“I’m proud of what we accomplished during our deployment in the PACOM AOR,” Spanier said. “We executed a successful mission while displaying the many strengths of the B-1 and ensured that our B-1s and airmen are combat ready anytime, anywhere.”