Photo By Senior Airman Saomy Sabournin | A B-52H Stratofortess assigned to the 69th Bomb Squadron taxis onto the flightline...... read more read more
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MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. – Knighthawk Thunder took place at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., from Jan 10 - Jan 13, 2022.
Knighthawk Thunder is an exercise conducted by the 69th Bomb Squadron and allows the aircrews to respond in simulated combat scenarios along with various weather conditions. The exercise not only demonstrates the wing’s ability to stand alert in the event of wartime circumstances, but it projects lethality across the globe.
“Knighthawk Thunder allows us to assure our allies, adversaries, and our own personal proficiencies as a squadron,” said Capt. Patrick “Tyson” Mason, an instructor pilot assigned to the 69th Bomb Squadron. “Practice makes perfect, just like in any other mission or sport.”
Knighthawk Thunder includes four B-52H Stratofortresses taking off twice a week to ensure that the aircrew and maintenance teams have opportunities to practice responding during a nuclear generation and achieve takeoff as quickly as possible.
“The whole reason we train is to find the mistake, debrief the mistake, and get better next time,” said Lt. Col. Bryson Ayers, commander of the 69th Bomb Squadron. “So it gives us the opportunity to fix a mistake while it’s fresh versus waiting six to nine weeks for the next exercise.”
While Knighthawk Thunder is a way to showcase the 5th Bomb Wing’s airpower and capabilities as one leg of the nuclear triad, it also ensures that Airmen are prepared and ready to execute such a vital mission. Maintainers, security forces, and aircrews test their abilities to sharpen their skills and strengthen their role in strategic deterrence.
“This is the training portion of the mission so the better we train," said Lt. Col. Ayers. "The more Global Strike is giving a credible strike platform for USSTRATCOM to use.”
| Date Taken: | 01.14.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 02.15.2022 11:53 |
| Story ID: | 413626 |
| Location: | MINOT AFB, NORTH DAKOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 119 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Knighthawk Thunder, by SrA Saomy Sabournin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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