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Operation Senior Surprise

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Operation Senior Surprise
Secret Squirrel mission patch

Operation Senior Surprise, also known as Secret Squirrel,[1] was a long range B-52G Stratofortress cruise missile strike against Iraqi targets that initiated the bombing campaign during Desert Storm.[2] (It was given the unofficial nickname 'Operation Secret Squirrel' by the B-52 crews.) The mission took place from January 16, 1991, and ended January 17, 1991. Lt. Col John "Jay" Beard, was the mission commander and Barksdale AFB's 596th Bomb Squadron's commanding officer.[3]

Background

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Seven B-52 from Barksdale AFB were chosen to take part in this top secret mission to attack high priority Iraqi power and communication targets[4] at the start of Operation Desert Storm. Each B-52G bomber was loaded with GPS guided AGM-86C conventional air-launched cruise missiles (CALCM). The cruise missiles had only recently been cleared for use with 1000-pound conventional blast fragmentation warheads.[5]

In the early morning of January 16, 1991 the crews from the 596th Bomb Squadron, 2d Bomb Wing, got the order to take off on their non-stop bombing mission. Eight targets, including power plants at Mosul and a telephone exchange in Basra, first aerial refueling rendezvous, somewhere near the Azores.

Doom 34 called to say they had shut down an engine on takeoff due to fluctuating oil pressure. Normally, this would have been an air abort, but the crew refused to be left behind.

They made their first aerial refueling with KC-135s out of Lajes Field, Azores. The bombers pressed on to the next aerial refueling was over the Mediterranean Sea, with KC-10 tankers out of Moron AB, Spain.

Flying lights-out and in radio silence, the bombers route took them across the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Desert. After entering Saudi airspace they began to arm the missiles and started their run to the launch point. Prior to the launch, about 100 miles south of the border in the far western part of Saudi Arabia, four missiles were having software problems and couldn't be launched. The crews were under strict orders not to launch any missiles with problems in case they caused collateral damage.

The launching of the remaining operative cruise missiles took ten minutes, staggered to avoid the risk of collision. The missiles headed north towards their targets. Fifteen hours had nearly passed since takeoff. The bombers turned west towards for their next refueling.

Operation Secret Squirrel aircrew members next to a B-52H with a 25th anniversary patch. Barksdale AFB, Jan. 15, 2016

The pilots experienced bad weather over the Mediterranean, with visibility just within the minimum required for safe refueling. Running low on gas, all bombers safely refueled with KC-10s out of Spain.

The fleet faced a strong headwind on the return trip and, with increased drag from those with retained missiles or seized engines, some of the aircraft required an additional refueling for the flight back to Barksdale. Two emergency KC-135 "strip tankers", from Robins AFB, Ga. were launched and refueled the B-52s low on fuel over the Atlantic.[5]

All seven B-52 bombers returned safely after the 35 hour and 24 minute,[6] 14,000 mile non-stop mission,[2] thereby setting a new world record for longest bombing mission and marking the first time a GPS guided missile had been used in combat.

Operation Secret Squirrel remained classified until January 16, 1992, when crewmembers and maintainers were officially presented with commendation medals for their efforts.[7]

B-52G Bombers Used

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  • 57-6475 "Miami Clipper II"
  • 58-0177 "Petie 3rd"
  • 58-0185 "El-Lobo"
  • 58-0238 "Miss Fit II"
  • 58-0183 "Valkyrie"
  • 59-2564 (Unnamed)
  • 59-2582 "Grim Reaper II"

Crews

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[8]

Bomber Aircraft Commander Pilot
Pilot augmentee
Radar Navigator
Navigator
Navigator Augmentee
Electronic Warfare Officer
Gunner
57-6475 "Miami Clipper II"
Capt. Bernard S. Morgan
1st Lt. Michael C. Branche
Capt. Steven E. Bass
Capt. John S. Ladner
1st Lt. Andre J. Mouton
Maj. Wesley H. Bain
Capt. James L. Morriss III
A1C Guy W. Modling
58-0177 "Petie 3rd"
Capt. Michael G. Wilson
1st Lt. Kent R. Beck
Lt. Col. John H. Beard *Airborne mission commander
Capt. George W. Murray III
1st Lt. Mark W. Van Doren
Capt. Lee S. Richie Jr.
Capt. Richard P. Holt
Sgt. Dale R. Jackson
58-0185 "El-Lobo"
Capt. Stephen D. Sicking
1st Lt. Russell F. Mathers
Capt. Steven W. Kirkpatrick
Capt. Floyd W. Gowans
1st Lt. Gregory D. Moss
Maj. Frederick D. Van Wicklin
Capt. Paul M. Benson
SSgt. William I. LeClair
58-0238 "Miss Fit II"
Capt. Marcus S. Myers
1st Lt. Michael L. Hansen
Capt. Chadwick H. Barr Jr.
Capt. David J. Byrd
1st Lt. Don E. Broyles
Capt. Don Van Slambrook
Capt. Todd H. Mathes
Sgt. Martin R. VanBuren
58-0183 "Valkyrie"
Capt. Alan W. Moe
Capt. David T. Greer Jr.
Capt. Joseph M. Hasbrouck & Maj. Steven D. Weilbrenner
Capt. Blaise M. Martinick
1st Lt. John S. Pyles
Capt. Matthew G. Casella
Capt. Tony Bothwell
Sgt. Daniel L. Parker
59-2564 (Unnamed)
Capt. John P. Romano
Capt. Erik K. Hayden
Maj. Stephen E. Jackson
Capt. Stephen R. Hess
Capt. Toby L. Corey
Capt. Alan C. Teauseau
lst Lt. Robert C. Lightner
A1C Steven R. Gramling
59-2582 "Grim Reaper II"
Capt. Charles E. Jones Jr.
Capt. Warren G. Ward
Maj. William H. Weller
Capt. Pat “Cruise” Hobday
1st Lt. Aaron E. Hattabaugh
Maj. Bruce F. Blood
Capt. Kevin M. Williams
Sgt. William J. McCutchen
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References

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  1. ^ "Desert Storm, Operation Senior Surprise dedication planned at BAFB". The Times. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  2. ^ a b "Operation Secret Squirrel Saw B-52s Rippling Off Cruise Missiles At Iraq 25 Years Ago". 18 January 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Surprised by Secret Squirrel". Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Desert Storm: 2nd Bomb Wing leads the air war". Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b "The Secret Squirrels". Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Celebrating the 26th anniversary of Secret Squirrel". Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Photos". Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Loadout Info about plane config". Retrieved 26 September 2019.