“Secret Squirrel” crewmembers reunite 25 years later

Twenty-five years after Operation Senior Surprise, aka “Secret Squirrel”, the aircrew members that kicked off Operation Desert Storm reunited on Barksdale Air Force Base, La. on Jan. 15, 2016. One of the B-52 Stratofortress bombers stationed at Barksdale is displaying the “Secret Squirrel” patch to commemorate the anniversary. This 35 hour mission was the first combat use of the Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile (CALCM). (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dachelle Melville/Released)

After twenty-five years, Airmen that flew in Operation Senior Surprise, aka “Secret Squirrel,” reunite to celebrate the success of the mission that kicked off Operation Desert Storm. The Airmen and their family gather around a B-52 Stratofortress stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. on Jan. 15, 2016 to see the newest nose art that commemorates the “Secret Squirrel” mission. This mission was the longest distance flown for a combat mission involving a 35-hour, 14,000 mile round trip from Barksdale. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dachelle Melville/Released)

John Beard, the mission commander of Operation Senior Surprise, aka “Secret Squirrel,” speaks with a local news reporter on Barksdale Air Force Base, La. on Jan. 15, 2016. Beard reunited with his fellow Airmen for the 25th anniversary of the mission that kicked off Operation Desert Storm. During the 35-hour long mission, 35 cruise missiles were launched from seven B-52s targeting strategic and tactical targets in Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dachelle Melville/Released)

U.S. Air Force Col. Trey Morriss, the vice commander of the 307th Bomb Wing, gives an interview to the local news media on Jan. 13, 2016 on Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Morriss was an aircrew member of Operation Senior Surprise, or as it was nicknamed “Secret Squirrel,” a mission that kicked off Operation Desert Storm 25 years ago. Seven B-52G Stratofortress bombers flew for over 35 hours and 14,000 miles nonstop to complete the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dachelle Melville/Released)

Glasses line a shelf in the Barksdale Global Power Museum on Barksdale Air Force Base, La. on Jan. 15, 2016. Each glass has the name of a U.S. Air Force Airman that flew in Operation Senior Surprise, aka “Secret Squirrel.” On the 25th anniversary of the mission, the museum dedicated an exhibit to the “Secret Squirrel” mission with an inaugural toast to celebrate the mission’s success. This mission kicked off Operation Desert Storm and was the longest combat mission in history at that time, lasting over 35 hours. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dachelle Melville/Released)

The Eighth Air Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Richard Clark, talks about the importance of Operation Senior Surprise, aka "Secret Squirrel," and the establishment of global power and superiority that that mission proved at the beginning of Operation Desert Storm. Clark's keynote address began the Secret Squirrel Symposium at Louisiana State University, Shreveport, La. on Jan. 16, 2016. During the mission thirty-five cruise missiles were launched from seven B-52 Stratofortress bombers targeting strategic and tactical targets in Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dachelle Melville/Released)

U.S. Air Force Airmen involved in Operation Senior Surprise (aka Secret Squirrel) discuss the factors in planning for the mission during the Secret Squirrel Symposium on Louisiana State University, Shreveport, La. on Jan. 16, 2016. The 35-hour mission required over 57 tankers for re-fueling the seven B-52G Stratofortress bombers over its duration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dachelle Melville/Released)

U.S. Air Force aircrew members involved in Operation Senior Surprise (aka Secret Squirrel) discuss the difficulties in executing a top secret mission during the Secret Squirrel Symposium on Louisiana State University, Shreveport, La. on Jan. 16, 2016. Thirty-five cruise missiles were launched from seven B-52G Stratofortress bombers targeting strategic and tactical targets in Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dachelle Melville/Released)