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Operation Senior Surprise Thread
Operation Senior Surprise, also known as Secret Squirrel by air crews - was a B-52 long range cruise missile strike against Iraq targets, that initated Op Desert Storm.
Operation Senior Surprise, also known as Secret Squirrel by air crews - was a B-52 long range cruise missile strike against Iraq targets, that initated Op Desert Storm.
The mission took place from January 16 1991 and ended January 17 1991.
To date it’s the longest non stop mission covering 14,000 miles and took 35 hrs and 24 mins.
In comparison Op Blackbuck during the Falklands war was 6,600 miles and 16 hrs.
To date it’s the longest non stop mission covering 14,000 miles and took 35 hrs and 24 mins.
In comparison Op Blackbuck during the Falklands war was 6,600 miles and 16 hrs.
7 B52s from Barksdake AFB of the 596th Bomb Sqn took part in the secret mission to attack high priority Iraqi power and communication targets.
Each B52 was carrying AGM-86C conventional air-launched cruise missiles.
Each B52 was carrying AGM-86C conventional air-launched cruise missiles.
On the morning of 16th Jan the aircraft got airborne to target 8 targets, including power plants at Mosul and a telephone exchange in Basra.
This was an highly complicated AAR plan with the 1st aerial refueling with KC-135s out of Lajes, Azores. Then on to the next aerial refueling with KC-10 tankers out of Moron, Spain.
The bombers then flew lights-out and in radio silence, routing across the Med, 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.
After entering Saudi airspace they began to arm the missiles and started their run to the launch point.
The launching of the cruise missiles took 10 minutes and 15 hrs had nearly passed since takeoff. They struck their targets, ‘blinding’ Iraq by eleminatimg power and comms nodes.
The bombers turned west towards for refuelling again, over the Med.
The bombers turned west towards for refuelling again, over the Med.
All 7 B-52 bombers returned safely and it was the the first time a GPS guided missile had been used in combat.
Operation Secret Squirrel remained classified until 1992 when crews and maintainers were presented with commendation medals.
Operation Secret Squirrel remained classified until 1992 when crews and maintainers were presented with commendation medals.
