[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 148 (Thursday, September 21, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H9407-H9408]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO A SPECIAL GROUP OF DEDICATED AMERICANS SERVING IN THE UNITED 
                            STATES AIR FORCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Myrick). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. HANSEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a special 
group of dedicated Americans serving in today's United States Air 
Force. This is the incredible story of a new world record for around-
the-world flight and more importantly the demonstration of a truly 
unique force projection capability within the U.S. Air Force.
  Two B-1B bombers, from Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, TX, completed 
the fastest flight around the world on June 2 and 3 of this year. 
According to the National Aeronautical Association, the flight measured 
36 hours, 13 minutes and 36 seconds and covered a distance of 22,814.5 
miles. This includes some 3,000 miles the crews did not plan on in 
order to divert around tropical storms in the Indian Ocean and a 
hurricane near the Phillipines. The planes each had 6 in-air refuelings 
and averaged over 630 m.p.h. to complete this amazing flight. The two 
B-1B Lancer's, from the 9th Bomb Squadron, were nicknamed ``Hellion'', 
and appropriately enough, ``Global Power.''
  While these record flights are amazing in their own right, the 
awesome military power they reflect is even more impressive. To 
demonstrate the ability to project power anywhere in the world and 
return non-stop to the United States, the bombers also dropped 500-
pound, concrete-filled training bombs on three continents during the 
mission dubbed ``Coronet Bat.'' Coronet Bat clearly demonstrated the 
immense capability of the B-1B and reinforced its position as a vital 
component of our conventional bomber force.
  Besides the awesome technical capability displayed in this historic 
flight, it also reflects the ingenuity, dedication and professionalism 
of today's Air Force. This mission required a genuine team effort and 
was designed to exercise the total force capabilities of our Nation's 
military. This type of mission 

[[Page H 9408]]
proves the B-1B's readiness to meet global mission requirements.
  Meticulous planning, requiring support across a full-range of Air 
Force commands, was required for this highly successful mission to 
prove the long-range, power-projection capability of the B1-B Lancer.
  First, this mission required the idea, supplied by Capt. Christopher 
Stewart, a native of Logan, UT, the support of Air Force leadership and 
the skilled flight planning from dozens of professionals like Lt. Col. 
David Snodgrass, from the 9th Bomber Squadron, Capt. Jeffrey Kumro, the 
ground mission commander, and S. Sgt. Scott Fromm, now at Officer 
Training School, from the 7th Operations Support Squadron, who was 
responsible for coordinating the hundreds of airspace issues associated 
with such a complex mission.
  Also key to the success of the mission were all the people who made 
possible the six in-air refuelings, closely coordinated around the 
globe, at precise times, to be sure the B-1B's had enough fuel to reach 
the next rendezvous.
  Range support, at bombing ranges from Pachino, Italy, to Kadena, 
Japan, to the Utah Test and Training Range, allowed the crews to prove 
their global power by delivering ordnance on target around the globe.
  And, of course this tremendous flight would never have been possible 
without the unsung heroes of military aviation, the maintenance crews, 
like crew chief, Sgt. Kenneth Kisner, who keeps these machines flying 
and safe for the air crews. A testament to their professionalism, these 
two aircraft left on time, completed the grueling mission, most of it a 
supersonic flight, and returned home requiring only minor post-flight 
maintenance.
  Let me also recognize the flight crews who ultimately made Coronet 
Bat such a resounding success. In the lead, and record breaking 
aircraft, Hellion, was mission commander and 9th Bomber Squadron 
Commander Lt. Col. Douglas Raaberg, aircraft commander Capt. Ricky 
Carver, offensive systems officer, Capt. Gerald Goodfellow, and weapons 
systems officer, Capt. Kevin Clotfelter.
  The crew of Global Power included Capts. Steve Adams, Chris Stewart, 
Kevin Houdek, and Steve Reeves.
  As mission commander, Lieutenant Colonel Raaberg said, this was a 
global teamwork at its best and reinforces Air Force plans for the B-1B 
conventional upgrade program. Again, I want to offer my personal 
congratulations to all the members of the Air Force team that made this 
happen, and the thanks of the American people for the tremendous 
service you provide a grateful Nation each and every day.
  Congratulations on a job well done.

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