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The Air National Guard recently participated in several precision strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen, Missouri’s 131st Bomb Wing said in a Nov. 22 press release.
B-2 Spirit bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, struck five hardened underground weapons storage locations on Oct. 16, the 131st BW continued.
The long-range stealth bombers struck targets in parts of Yemen that are controlled by the Houthis, an Islamic political and military organization operating there.
Last month’s strikes involved Guard and active-duty airmen working together on operations, maintenance, planning, logistics and support.
Maintenance and operations Guardsmen from the 131st BW loaded and launched aircraft and conducted tactical planning and execution at Whiteman.
The active component’s 509th Bomb Wing also played a significant role in the strikes from Whiteman, as did the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center.
Two other units at Jefferson Barracks Air National Guard Station in St. Louis were also operation participants.
The 157th Operations Group provided worldwide support to the development and delivery of multi-domain effects for the operation.
The 257th Combat Operations Flight leveraged its global strike capabilities to ensure the lethal and survivable implementation of presidential directed operations.
"This was a team effort in all aspects of the mission and our Missouri Guard Airmen contributed every step of the way," said Col. Jared Kennish, the 131st BW’s commander. "The total force relationships the 131st BW has built with our active-duty counterparts proved decisive for a successful mission."
The B-2 entered Air Force service in 1986 and is a multirole stealth bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions.
The 131st BW has maintained and flown the B-2 since 2008 in a classic association with the 509th BW, a unit which falls under the Eighth Air Force.
The 509th BW and the 131st BW are the only Air Force units that operate the service’s 20 B-2s.
The 131st BW is also the Air Guard’s only wing flying the B-2, and the component’s only nuclear-capable bomb wing.
The Houthi facilities targeted last month housed missiles, weapons components and other munitions, Central Command said in an Oct. 16 press release.
The Houthis were targeting U.S. and international military and civilian vessels navigating international waters throughout the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Battle damage assessments last month did not indicate civilian casualties, CENTCOM added.
"Team Whiteman is an elite, highly disciplined team, consisting of Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, civilians and contractors working in unison to deliver global strike … anytime, anywhere," said Col. Keith J. Butler, the 509th BW’s commander.
— By Mark Hensch
