‘Resultant Fury’ pits aircrews against challenging targets

  • Published
  • By Maj. Don Langley
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. (AFPN) --  B-2 Spirit bombers flew a 23-hour roundtrip mission from here Nov. 22 supporting a two-day exercise involving a variety of aircraft striking maritime and ground targets in the Pacific.

The highlight of the exercise was the sinking of towed targets by two B-52 Stratofortresses using updated J-series satellite-guided weapons for the first time.

“Although the B-2s didn’t engage the moving maritime targets, they contributed to the overall air operation,” said Lt. Col. Steve Basham, 393rd Bomb Squadron commander, after returning here. “Our play was to push in as part of a strike package, searching for ships. By using the radar, we were able to identify potential targets located within a harbor. After determining the maritime situation, we set back up for emerging ground targets and engaged them with simulated weapons drops.”

The idea of using airpower to maintain control of the seas dates back to the early days of powered flight. In fact, the exercise name - Resultant Fury 2005 -- refers to a historical account of Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell’s bombing missions against target ships in the 1920s, and the ‘resultant fury’ of senior Naval officials at the aviator’s success.

This was no simple recreation of an 80-year old experiment, however.

“This is the first time the Pacific Air Operations Center exercised a highly flexible kill-chain designed to reduce the time it takes to detect, track, target and destroy ground or maritime targets as well as emerging time-critical targets,” said Maj. Eric Friesel, 509th Operations Support Squadron conventional combat plans officer.

Whiteman’s aircrews joined B-52s from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and Andersen AFB, Guam, as well as B-1 Lancers from Dyess AFB, Texas. The exercise also involved E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system and E-8C Joint Stars air battle management aircraft, and F-15E Strike Eagles from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, KC-135 Stratotankers from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Andersen and Robins AFB, Ga., and Navy P-3 Orions and F/A-18 Hornets.

“The capability for Airmen to rapidly respond anywhere in the Pacific…in all weather, day or night, is crucial for (Pacific Command),” said Gen. Paul Hester, commander of Pacific Air Forces. (Capt. David Faggard contributed to this story)