Members of the 28th Munitions Squadron assemble two-thousand-pound bombs March 26, 2011, at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., in preparation for Operation Odyssey Dawn. The Airmen configured several aircraft and hundreds of weapons for operations halfway across the world. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kasey Close)
Airmen from the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare a B-1B Lancer March 27, 2011, at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., to support Operation Odyssey Dawn. Their work was made difficult by severe weather conditions including snow, ice, and freezing fog. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marc I. Lane)
3/31/2011 - ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. (AFNS) -- B-1B Lancers from the 28th Bomb Wing were launched early March 27 from their home station here to strike targets in Libya in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.
"Nearly 700 Ellsworth Airmen are currently deployed around the world supporting existing overseas contingency operations," said Col. Jeffrey Taliaferro, the 28th Bomb Wing commander. "But this week, the nation called again, and the Airmen of Ellsworth rallied and answered."
With less than two days from first notice to takeoff, Airmen here configured several aircraft and hundreds of weapons for operations halfway across the world.
A challenging task in the best of conditions, their work was made especially difficult by dismal weather, including four inches of snow, glare ice and freezing fog, Taliaferro said.
"Our Airmen make airpower look easy," he said, "but it is hard work -- blood, sweat and commitment across the whole wing -- that put bombs on target on the other side of the world."
A no-fly zone was imposed by the U.N. in Security Council Resolution 1973, which authorizes military action in order to ensure the protection of the Libyan people and compliance with the conditions of the resolution. This strike was in support of the international coalition's overall goals to protect Libyan civilians targeted by Col. Moammar Gadhafi and his forces, reduce the Libyan regime's ability to defy the no-fly zone, and enhance protection of coalition air forces responsible for implementing it.
While the specific targets of this historic mission could not be disclosed, officials stated that coalition forces are striking targets that pose a direct threat either to the civilian population or to partner nation aircraft enforcing the no-fly zone. Targets such as Libyan military sites and air defense systems have been carefully selected to reduce their attack capabilities while minimizing risk to the civilian population.
This mission marked the first time the B-1 fleet has launched combat sorties from the continental U.S. to strike targets overseas.
