Scale bomber models find home in headquarters air parks

by Senior Airman Amanda Morris
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

10/20/2015 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Members of Air Force Global Strike Command gathered to dedicate new B-1B Lancer precision scale models at AFGSC's and 8th Air Force's headquarters air parks, here, Oct. 19.

"This model symbolizes standing up bomber command for the United States Air Force," said Col. Patrick Matthews, 8th AF vice commander. "We are bringing the band back together."

The miniature air parks showcase the major missions of the command, and the addition of the Lancer represents recent growth within the command. 

"From the very beginning of AFGSC, there was a notion to bring all of the bombers under one command," said Yancy Mailes, AFGSC director of the global strike History and Museum Program. "It just wasn't the right time."

With the new realignment, the B-1B and the Long Range Strike Bomber program, previously residing under Air Combat Command, moved under AFGSC. This united all of the Air Force's bomber assets under a single command, effective Oct. 1.

Sixty-three aircraft and about 7,000 people transferred from ACC to AFGSC under the realignment. The 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, continue to serve as the host wings.

"The B-1 has proven its capabilities in long range strike since its introduction to combat. Our B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit demonstrate the same capability," Mailes said. "It is only natural for the aircraft to fall under this command."

"This is an amazing opportunity for us to have all three of our bombers in the same command," said Gen. Robin Rand, Air Force Global Strike Command commander. "It is important that we put all of our bombers under one command. It is not just to look right or to feel right; it's the best thing for us to do to wage our nation's business."

"Global strike is capable of reaching out at any moment, not in days, weeks or months, but in hours," Rand continued. "There are few platforms that can do that better than the B-1."