[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 31, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF B-2 STEALTH BOMBER

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                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 31, 1995
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, on December 22, 1994 an article appeared in 
the Windsor Review, a newspaper in the Fourth Congressional District of 
the State of Missouri. The article, entitled ``B-2 Has Phenomenal First 
Year At Whiteman Air Force Base,'' examines the first year 
accomplishments of the B-2 stealth bomber. I enter the article into the 
Congressional Record:
       The 509th Bomb Wing has flown 114 of 120 planned sorties, 
     with an astounding reliability rate of 95 percent, since the 
     Air Force's first B-2 stealth bomber winged its way from its 
     birthplace in Palmdale, California, to its new home near Dec. 
     17 last year. That equals more than 380 flying hours for all 
     four aircraft.
       The 509th got off to a phenomenal start by flying the 
     ``Spirit of Missouri'' on its first training mission just 
     five days short of its arrival at Whiteman.
       Since that time, the ``Spirit of Missouri'' has been joined 
     by the ``Spirit of California'', ``Spirit of Texas'', and 
     ``Spirit of Washington'' as the 509th progresses toward 
     becoming the first fully operational B-2 wing in the Air 
     Force.
       The wing initially trained two instructor pilots at 
     Whiteman, and four more instructor pilots in the first class 
     have recently completed their checkrides. The second and 
     third class have begun training. By the end of 1994, the 
     509th will be able to point with pride to eight instructor 
     pilots who have completed basic qualification.
       ``I'm extremely pleased with the Whiteman team and excited 
     about the future of the B-2'' said Brigadier General Ronald 
     C. Marcotte, 509th Bomb Wing Commander. ``Our goal is to make 
     the B-2 and Whiteman AFB the crown jewel of national defense. 
     I think we're well on our way.
       In September, the 509th completed its first operation 
     delivery of munitions at the Air Force's Utah Teat and 
     Training Range. The ``Spirit of California'' delivered two 
     inert Mark-84 2,000-pound bombs against targets located at 
     Barker Strong Point on the Utah range.
       ``We were on target and on time'' said Colonel William M. 
     Fraser III, 509th Operations Group commander. ``It was the 
     culmination of many months of training for the entire 509th 
     team. We exercised our mission planning program as well as 
     our weapons load and aircraft preparation.''
       Six weapons load crews have been trained and certified in 
     the past year.
       While the ``Spirit of California'' demonstrated the B-2's 
     munitions delivery capability, the ``Spirit of Missouri'' 
     began its first phase inspection. A phase inspection is a 
     scheduled inspection that looks at the entire airplane for 
     any signs of damage, usually in the form of corrosion, 
     cracks, or unexpected wear and tear. The B-2 has more than 
     1,200 items that must be inspected. The whole process takes 
     about 44 working days.
       ``Our plan is to use this phase as a benchmark for future 
     phases,'' said Colonel Henry L. Taylor, 509th Logistics Group 
     commander. ``We want to improve the process so we can reduce 
     the time needed for phase inspections and return the planes 
     to the 393d Bomb Squadron as quickly as we can safely do 
     it.''
       As Whiteman team members work to make the B-2 the 
     cornerstone of national defense, they are also deactivating 
     113 Minuteman II missiles in accordance with the START 
     treaty, and welcomed the 442nd Reserve Wing and its fleet of 
     22 A-10's from Richards-Gebaur AFB, Mo. The conversions 
     required $120 million in construction projects.
       ``Without the support of our community partners and 
     taxpayers, especially those who live and work around Whiteman 
     we could not have achieved the accomplishments of the past 
     year,'' Marcotte said. ``We've worked, not only at building 
     solid relationships with our civilian friends and neighbors. 
     Everyone has been tremendously supportive and we're off to a 
     great start.''
       The future of the B-2 and Whiteman looks bright. ``The B-2 
     is the cornerstone of America's global power of tomorrow. 
     It's a critical component that will enable us to meet the 
     enormous challenges to world peace in the 21st century,'' 
     Marcotte said. ``And as our 509th motto says: Follow Us.''
     

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