New B-52 squadron to be activated at Minot

[Rockville]

MINOT, N.D. — Minot Air Force Base is preparing to activate a new B-52 bomber squadron.

Base spokeswoman Laurie Arellano says the ceremony is planned for Sept. 3, though some details still need to be wrapped up, including the squadron’s name.

The unit will be the fourth B-52 squadron in the Air Force. The Minot base has the 23rd Bomb Squadron and Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana has two B-52 units.

Air Force officials say adding the new squadron at Minot is part of plans to put a stronger emphasis on nuclear mission training for B-52 units.

Arellano says the new squadron will bring about 1,000 more people to the base.

The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Aug 27, 2009 11:28:06 EDT

[Shannon spotter]

Will the "new" B-52's be pulled from the original 3 squadrons or are they to be ex AMARC's?

[centequattro]

Hi,

I've read some where that there will be no increase in the number of operational B-52s. Both 2nd BW and 5th BW will consist of two squadrons, on focussing on the nuclear deterrence task and the other on conventional bombing. The 2nd BW will loose its third (training) squadron as training will be done in the future by the 93rd BS, the only reserve unit flying the B-52.

Kind regards,


Ronald

[Arjan]

According to http://www.af.mil" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, the 69th has been re-activated again!

[Ergo01]

At Minot Open Day last July I purchased a 69th BS T-shirt. No aircraft were seen sporting squadron colors, but crews may already be working up (and designing T-shirts that may not be 100% politically correct: "We make nightmares").
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