U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52H Stratofortress - 23rd Bomb Squadron “Barons”, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Base “Excalibur” – 60-0044

Starting from 2018, the United States Air Force has developed Bomber Task Forces to help develop the ability to operate from unfamiliar locations and integrate with allies and partner nations in both the Pacific and Europe. Usually, four to six B-52 Stratofortress, B-1 Lancer or B-2 Spirit strategic bombers from alternating squadrons operate on exercises and patrol missions across Europe and Northern Africa. Mainly stationed at RAF Fairford in South West England, the Bomber Task Forces have also been deployed to several countries across the continent, including Iceland, Norway, Poland and most recently Romania. “Excalibur” and her crew, together with three more B-52s from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, rotated to England as part of such a Bomber Task Force in spring of 2022. This B-52H, serial number 60-0044, sports the emblem of the 5th Operations Support Squadron. The 5th OSS manages all airfield activities, including air traffic control, mission planning, aircrew training, and also provides intelligence information for aircrews of the wing’s two flying components, the 23rd and 69th Bomb Squadrons.