Czech Republic welcomes a Cold Warrior

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Greg Steele
  • 917th Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  The crowd looked toward the horizon; the black smoke from the engines of a B-52 bomber barely visible. As the glow from the aircraft landing lights came into view, the excitement began to grow as all eyes and cameras focused on the gray metallic hulk descending onto the airfield. Spectators lined the border fences, while dozens of local and international media captured this historic moment as the B-52 made a low pass over the airfield. After making a wide, sweeping turn and lining up for its final approach, the crowd cheered as the wheels of this majestic and legendary aircraft made contact with the runway at Leoš Janaček Airport, Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Twenty years ago, the presence of this same aircraft in this area of the world would have signaled the end of the planet as we knew it. Certainly, Soviet manned early warning radar and anti-aircraft units would have sought to destroy this machine before she delivered her payload of nuclear fire to her sworn Soviet enemies. However, on Sept. 15, 2010, this lone B-52 was not an airborne nuclear penetrator, but an emissary of good will and peace to our new alliance members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Indeed, this B-52H Stratofortress is maintained and crewed by Air Force Reserve Command's own 917th Wing and 93rd Bomb Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

The B-52, call sign Scalp 99, was crewed by the 917th Wing's Operations Group commander, Col. Keith Schultz, and the 93rd BS commander, Lt. Col. Joseph "Doc" Jones, and was flown to the Czech Republic to support the 10th Annual NATO Days in Ostrava air show. "We have tried for three years to get the B-52 here," said Zybnek Pavlacik, chairman of the Jagello 2000 Association. "Its participation at a show in the Czech Republic is absolutely exceptional." The Jagello 2000 is a non-governmental organization for the enhancement of NATO in Central Europe and has been the main sponsor of the air show for the past 10 years.

"Although the B-52 regularly participates in air shows in the United Kingdom, it has only been in this region a few times, once to Berlin and twice to Moscow. That makes NATO Days in Ostrava a member of a really exclusive club," Pavalacik added. The Berlin event alluded to, the Berlin ILA air show, was also attended by a 917th Wing/93rd Bomb Squadron B-52 earlier this year.

"I remember when Soviet MiGs (aircraft) were here on alert, right on this airfield," said one spectator. "I can't believe a B-52 bomber is here now." The NATO Days in Ostrava air show is the largest air, army and security show of its kind in Central Europe. It includes demonstrations of NATO air and ground war fighting capabilities and has steadily grown over the past 10 years.

"The importance of U.S. military aircraft and ground unit support for this exhibition cannot be over emphasized, and once the 917th Wing and 93rd BS committed to attend this exhibition, the real work of getting the bomber on the ground at Ostrava began," said Colonel Jones.

"Landing a B-52 in Ostrava was not difficult logistically, since the airfield was a former MiG-15/MiG-17 base," said Lt. Col. David Webb, 917th Operations Support Flight commander. "The runway was a classic "SAC" (Strategic Air Command) style runway." The runway was almost 11,500 feet long and 200 feet wide, easily large enough to support a B-52. The only "show-stopper" was finding a B-52 tow bar, which was needed to move and position the aircraft on the parking ramp for the air show.

"The United States Air Forces in Europe graciously took a tow bar out of service at Royal Air Force Base Mildenhall and had it trucked across Europe to allow us use during the air show," said Colonel Webb. The tow bar was waiting at the airport as members of the 917th Wing arrived prior to the arrival of the B-52.

"A lot of hard work was put into this mission by every member unit of this wing, from ground maintenance to public affairs," stated Colonel Jones. "I take pride in the fact that we are the first unit to make this historic flight and we fully intended to make our NATO partners feel welcomed in the alliance."

To top it off, the normal signage displayed at air shows to tell facts about the aircraft and unit were translated into the Czech language by Jagello 2000 staff and built by 917th Wing Fabrication. "You could tell that people at the show were truly grateful to be able to read about the aircraft and unit in their own language," said Master Sgt. Wes Phillips, 917th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flight chief.

The B-52, billed as one of the main attractions during the air show, lived up to its hype as an estimated 185,000 spectators attended the air show, up from 135,000 in 2009, with surveys indicating they were there to see the B-52.