Melbourne, Australia. (August 26, 2022): In this photo by Technical Sergeant Dylan Nuckolls, two U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit bombers assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, fly a bomber task force mission alongside two Royal Australian Air Force F-35 Lightning II bombers during Koolendong 22, a precursor to the restart of Pitch Black, a 16-nation air combat exercise over Australia Northern Territories that is expected to run through September, 2022.
Melbourne, Australia. (August 26, 2022): Described as the “premier multinational air combat exercise”, the skies over Australia’s Northern Territory will be flooded with the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft as 16 nations participate in Exercise Pitch Black.
Naturally, America’s advanced technology will be on full display as elements of the U.S. Air Force join with allied nations to prepare for a potential conflict with an increasingly confrontational China.The American 509th Bomb Wing, based in Missouri, are flying the Air Force B-2 Spirit bombers while the U. S. Marines contribute 12 F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing Craft drawn from squadrons based in Japan.
Speaking of the Japanese, they along with pilots from the German Luftwaffe and South Korea will make their debut in these biennial exercises which are returning after a four-year hiatus due to COVID-19. During three weeks of flight missions, pilots will face realistic, simulated air combat situations designed to test force integration and tactics.
The 509th Bomb Wing threw the first punch after terrorists attacked New York and Washington on 911 being the first to penetrate Afghan air space in October 2001, flying round trip missions from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, logging combat missions of over 30 hours, the longest on record.
As these courageous pilots test their skills above the skies of foreign lands, we here at home must do all we can to support them and their families while they are deployed. You can help active duty deployed servicemembers like these through our Yellow Ribbon Care Packages to boost morale.
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