General, Marking the 35th Anniversary of a history-making bomber global strike that achieved many "firsts" and created precedents used in today's Bomber Task Force global operations.

16-17 January 1991, Combat debut of the Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile (CALCM): Operation Senior Surprise - nicknamed "Secret Squirrel" by the bomber Crew Dogs who flew this air combat mission - was conducted by the 596th Bomb Squadron, 2d Bomb Wing (2 BW) assigned to Eighth Air Force (8 AF). This air event was the longest air combat mission in history up to that date.

This singular air combat mission achieved many "firsts" - the first time a bomber aircraft had conducted a "C2C" (explained further below) launching from home station of Barksdale AFB and returning to home station after mission completion. The first use of standoff precision missions with the combat debut of the CALCM. The first time standoff air tactics were used where the attacking aircraft did not penetrate enemy airspace but accurately struck designated targets. The historic execution of Operation Senior Surprise in 1991 - made a positive difference and created ripple effects that influenced today's Bomber Task Force air operations.

Unknown at the time, this 1991 history-making achievement supported by superb ground crews and air planners before brave aircrews executed the air mission on 16-17 January; provided patterns and standards used today in global-centric Bomber Task Force missions and operations. The "C2C" or CONUS to CONUS (Continental United States) has become common in planning and operational procedures used in Bomber Task Force (BTF) training, exercises, and operational missions used by all three aircraft types in America's bomber fleet. The successful first use of stand-off precision munitions provided a benchmark that inspired subsequent development of generations of precision standoff munitions as well as planning processes and air tactics for their employment.

Rest of the Story: Training for this mission by seven B-52 Stratofortress sorties began six months earlier in 1990 for both air and ground crews. Selected air and ground crew members were "read" into the then classified CALCM program and obviously kept their silence about this new precision weapon as well as the associated flight training that included practice launches of the CALCM. The squadron's training schedule only noted "SS" reflecting "Senior Surprise" for these seven aircrews - causing the creative moniker of "Secret Squirrel" to be used as a humorous nickname. After months of quietly training by the "SS" air and ground crews - global circumstance were such to cause the seven bombers without fanfare to be preloaded with the CALCM with their respective aircrews seclude on Barksdale AFB, housed at the former Alert Facility building.

The word to execute Senior Surprise came from Lieutenant General E.G. "Buck" Shuler, Jr. (8 AF Commander #40). In his pre-flight briefing to the seven aircrews, General Shuler stated: "Gentlemen, this mission has the historic significance of the Doolittle Raid - Godspeed!"

This historic reference to the Doolittle Raid referred to the 18 April 1942 bomber strike by then Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle leading 16 B-25 bombers launched off the deck of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet against the Home Islands of Imperial Japan after the attack by Imperial Japan on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. These B-25 bombers and their aircrews were from the 17th Bomb Group assigned to a young Eighth Air Force. It can be argued that the Doolittle Raid was the inaugural global strike by American bombers and that the Eighth Air Force has been in the global strike mindset since Day One.

Operation Senior Surprise when executed in January 1991, marked the beginning of the larger Operation Desert Storm, the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. The Squirrel's history making achievement was a team effort by aircrews, ground crews, and aerial tanker aircrews for this 14,000 mile round trip conducted in 35.4 hours with four planned aerial refuelings from 38 tanker aircraft. Targets struck within Iraq by CALCM precision missiles included high-value facilities controlling electrical power grids, communications, and transmissions with all designated targets struck within the operational timeframe for the start of Operation Desert Storm.

After mission completion, all seven B-52s returned to Barksdale AFB. Due to the then classification of the mission and weapon system used, details of the mission were not made public until early 1992 when Air Medals and other individual decorations were present to aircrew members, ground crews, and support personnel. And Operation Senior Surprise was the last air combat mission for B-52 enlisted gunners with this duty billet phased out by the Air Force on 1 October 1992.

Eyewitness to History: Mr. Doug Rogers of Bossier City recalls observing the liftoff of the seven B-52s from Barksdale AFB on 16 January 1991. Mr. Rogers and his late father - both prominent businessmen and civic leaders - noticed how unusual the launching of these B-52s. The seven launching bombers were lower and slower than during previous launches from the base. In hindsight and knowing the significance of the 16 January liftoff, these gentlemen witnessed history in the making. Mr. Doug Rogers is the current Chair of the Eighth Air Force Consultation Committee.

Many of the air veterans of Operation Senior Surprise mission and ground crews, continued their service to the Nation even after leaving or retiring from active duty. Several who currently reside vicinity of Barksdale AFB still make a positive difference in the local communities.

Special Recognitions: In January 2016, for the 25th Anniversary, Squirrel veterans and their families held a reunion on Barksdale AFB with the veterans participating as panelist at a symposium on the campus of Louisiana State University Shreveport. For this 2016 anniversary, the Squirrel logo was placed on the 2d Bomb Wing flagship B-52 (see first attached photograph). On 19 January 2019, the reunion of Squirrel veterans was held at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Georgia where Major General James C. Dawkins, Jr., the then Commander of Eighth Air Force (#54) spoke and presented Air Medals to several Squirrel veterans who had left active duty before the medals were approved. The second attached photograph shows this event and includes Lieutenant General (retired) Shuler who noted above, implemented the mission in 1991. On 23 December 2022, many of the Squirrel veterans and their families were present at the 46th Independence Bowl football game in Shreveport, where the Squirrels were recipients of the General Omar N. Bradley Spirit of Independence Award.

CALCM Inactivation: On 9 December 2021, the last CALCM in the United States Air Force was inactivated by 2 BW at a ceremony conducted at Barksdale AFB. Many Squirrel veterans - both air and ground crew members - attended this ceremony.

35th Anniversary Events: To begin the 2026 anniversary year, many Squirrel veterans will conduct their annual toast at the Barksdale AFB's Global Power Museum on 16 January standing beside an extensive and most excellent "Secret Squirrel" exhibit that contain the toast glasses, the Bradley Award trophy, photographs, displays, and memorabilia. As well, for this anniversary event a recently arrived memorial bench will be present at the exhibit - with this bench donated by the B-52 Stratofortress Association. At a later anniversary event by the Squirrels in 2026, the bench will be dedicate when it is installed within the Barksdale Air Park.