Flyover North Korea

Tensions with North Korea mount. In response, and as a show of force to North Korea for firing two ballistic missiles over Japan in the last three weeks, two U.S. B-1B bombers, escorted by four Marine F-35B fighters, four South Korean, and four Japanese fighters, participated in a flyover in South Korea, and practiced attacks by releasing live weapons at a firing range in South Korea, according to a release from the U.S. Pacific Command.

CNN news on Jan. 10, 2016, reported a B-52 bomber from Anderson Air force Base in Guam, flanked by South Korean F-15 fighters and U.S. F-16s, flew over the South Korean city of Osan after North Korea claimed to have tested a Hydrogen bomb. CNN reported the claims of a “spectacular success” by North Korea were met with skepticism. “The United States, South Korea, Japan and China have been testing for airborne or ground radiation in the region, but say they haven’t found any evidence supporting the claim of an H-bomb test.”

So, now we have a rogue nation espousing threats of nuclear capabilities and testing ballistic missiles over a neighboring country (Japan). Flyovers as a show of force have not limited the audacity of the little man in power. I thought it would be appropriate to research the capabilities of some of our airplanes and send a copy to Kim. Maybe I will use FedEx.

I asked an Air Force friend about these planes. He was an armorer for F-15s and has been around the B-1B bombers, so he was a good reference and gave me some guidelines for research. Here goes...

The Boeing B-1B Lancer is a variant of the original Rockwell B-1 multi mission long-range bomber. The first production B-1 was flown in October, 1984. It was originally developed in the ’70s as a replacement for the aging B-52, with flight testing continuing into 1981. The B-1B is an improved version initiated by the Reagan administration, which added additional payload capacity and improved radar capabilities. The first B-1B was delivered to Dyess AFB in Texas in 1986, and became operational in May, 1988. With a crew of four, it can be armed with a combinations of bombs and missiles. Its bomb bay can hold 84 500-pound bombs, or 24 2,000-pounders. As of September, 2016, there are 62 B-1Bs in service, according to the U.S. Air Force.

We also have the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. With a crew of two, the multi-role aircraft is capable of delivering conventional and nuclear munitions. It has a wingspan of 172 feet, a ceiling of 50,000 feet, and is rated as “intercontinental” for range. The only operational base for the B-2 is Whitman AFB in Missouri. Its first public flight was in July, 1989, and served in combat missions in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

The workhorse Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has been in service since 1955 with the U.S. Air Force. Remember when we saw them flying around Fairchild AFB? The Boeing website says of the B-52: “In its sixth decade of operational service, the B-52 continues to be a major contributor to U.S. and allied forces.” The latest upgrade is designated as the B-52H. Constant upgrades have made this “the most combat capable bomber in the U.S. inventory.” With a crew of five, it has immediate nuclear and conventional global strike capability, and is in service not only to the U.S. but also to allied forces.

McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagles, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons, and Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II are typical escort aircraft for bombers. F-35 Lightning II has its namesake from the twin fuselage World War II P-38 fighter. The first F-35A rolled out of assembly in Fort Worth, Texas, and completed its first test flight in February, 2006. The first production plane was delivered in February, 2011. The “B” model is a new variant and is a short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) and is the world’s first supersonic STOVL stealth aircraft. F-35 Bs have been delivered to the U.S. Marines and are in testing for the Italian and United Kingdom air forces.

China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea as well as the U.S. are against nuclear capabilities in North Korea. Maybe Kim Jung Un is suffering from the “Napoleon Complex.” I trust he will not test us and our allies on his use of nuclear weapons.

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Jack Evensizer is a resident of Dalton Gardens.