Warbirds return to nest after five months

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Wesley Wright
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (ACCNS) --  Five months, more than 6,000 nautical miles and a 100-degree difference in temperature later, 110 Warbirds returned to the nest Jan. 30 from a deployment to Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, amid "welcome home" signs, balloons and excited children.

The Airmen were the largest wave of deployers returning from Air and Space Expeditionary Force 3/4. Approximately 40 Airmen returned Jan. 28 and 29, along with several B-52 Stratofortresses. Another 48 Airmen returned Jan. 31, and 32 are due to arrive Feb 2.

Six B-52s and approximately 300 Airmen deployed to Andersen AFB in August 2006 to provide U.S. Pacific Command with a continuous bomber presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

After accomplishing all their missions and helping launch 200 perfect sorties, the vigilant Warbirds are finally home.

"It feels great," said Senior Airman Andrew Severn, 5th Munitions Squadron. "We got everything done that we set out to accomplish."

While deployed, the Warbirds successfully launched 200 consecutive B-52 sorties with a 100-percent mission effectiveness record -- a new record.

"We made every mission we set out to accomplish a success," said Col. Eldon Woodie, 5th Bomb Wing commander. "Our Airmen rose above the standard. The deployment was absolutely phenomenal."

The returning Warbirds are now faced with the challenge of getting back into, as Sergeant Boyed puts it, "the Minot way."

As part of the reintegration process, Airmen undergo a "reverse" deployment process, said Tech. Sgt. Timothy Beachy, 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron. He explained that Airmen are given a post-deployment checklist, which they streamline into a 72-hour process. The checklist runs them through different organizations on base that aide in adjusting back to normal life.