Making history: B-52, B-1, B-2s maintain regional stability in PACOM theater
A B-52 Stratofortress, B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit sit beside one another on the flightline at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Aug.10, 2016. This marks the first time in history that all three of Air Force Global Strike Command's strategic bomber aircraft are simultaneously conducting operations in the U.S. Pacific Command area of operations. The B-1 Lancer, which arrived at Andersen Aug. 6, will replace the B-52 in support of the U.S. Strategic Command Continuous Bomber Presence mission. The CBP bomber swap between the B-1 and B-52 is occurring throughout the month of August as the B-1s return to support this mission for the first time since April 2006. In addition to the CBP bomber swap, three B-2s arrived in theater to conduct a Bomber Assurance and Deterrence deployment. The CBP mission and BAAD deployments are part of a long-standing history of maintaining a consistent bomber presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific in order to maintain regional stability, and provide assurance to our allies and partners in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Richard Ebensberger)