Missouri Airmen welcome challenge to keep B-2 safe

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Senior Airman Bruce Vaughn looks for scratches or chipped paint on a B-2 Spirit bomber deployed here. The Spirit's skin has to be kept in pristine condition to help maintain its stealth qualities. Airman Vaughn is a low observable technician from the 509th Maintenance Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis)

Missouri Airmen welcome challenge to keep B-2 safe

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Senior Airman Bruce Vaughn looks for scratches or chipped paint on a B-2 Spirit bomber deployed here. The Spirit's skin has to be kept in pristine condition to help maintain its stealth qualities. Airman Vaughn is a low observable technician from the 509th Maintenance Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis)

Putting the 'bomb' in bomber

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Weapons specialists deployed here from the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., prepare to load a bomb onto a B-2 Spirit bomber. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt Val Gempis)

Putting the 'bomb' in bomber

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- (From left) Airman 1st Class Tommy Day, Senior Airman Phillip Ruiz and Tech. Sgt. Dwayne Bolles prepare to load a bomb onto a B-2 Spirit bomber here. They are weapons specialists deployed from the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis)

Airmen help improve B-2 aircraft maintenance in Guam

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Senior Airman Mindy High prepares to launch a B-2 Spirit bomber during a mission here. The B-2s deployed here Feb. 25 to provide U.S. Pacific Command officials a continuous bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing regional security and the U.S. commitment to the Western Pacific. Bomber aircraft have had an ongoing presence on the island since February 2004. Airman High is a crew chief from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis)

Airmen help improve B-2 aircraft maintenance in Guam

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Senior Airman Mindy High (foreground) and Airman 1st Class Dustin Spring prepare to launch a B-2 Spirit bomber during a mission here. The B-2s deployed here Feb. 25 to provide U.S. Pacific Command officials a continuous bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing regional security and the U.S. commitment to the Western Pacific. Bomber aircraft have had an ongoing presence on the island since February 2004. The Airmen are crew chiefs from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis)

Birds of a feather ...

OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN -- An F-15 Eagle banks left while an F/A-22 Raptor flies in formation en route to a training area off the coastline of Virginia on April 5. The 27th Fighter Squadron is performing regular operations with two Raptors on loan from Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The first Langley AFB, Va., F-22 is due to arrive within the next month. The F-15 is assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)

Birds of prey

OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN -- An F/A-22 Raptor, foreground, flies in formation with two F-15 Eagles en route to a training area off the coast of Virginia on April 5. The F/A-22 is assigned to the 27th Fighter Squadron and the F-15s are assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing, both at Langley Air Force Base, Va. The Raptor is on loan from Tyndall AFB, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker)

Fuel the Spirit

OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN -- A B-2 Spirit bomber prepares to refuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The bomber deployed as part of a rotation that has provided U.S. Pacific Command officials a continuous bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing regional security and the U.S. commitment to the Western Pacific. The Spirit is from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo. The Stratotanker is assigned to the Illinois Air National Guard's 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis)

Fuel the Spirit

OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN -- A B-2 Spirit bomber prepares to refuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The bomber deployed as part of a rotation that has provided U.S. Pacific Command officials a continuous bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing regional security and the U.S. commitment to the Western Pacific. The Spirit is from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo. The Stratotanker is assigned to the Illinois Air National Guard's 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis)

Fuel the Spirit

OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN -- A B-2 Spirit bomber soars during a deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The bomber deployed as part of a rotation that has provided U.S. Pacific Command officials a continuous bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific region, enhancing regional security and the U.S. commitment to the Western Pacific. It is from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis)

Thunderbirds

OVER DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team fly in trail formation during the 2005 Aerospace and Arizona days here April 2. The Thunderbirds are assigned to the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina D. Kinsey)