Members of Operation Secret Surprise were honored during their 28th anniversary reunion on Jan. 19. Their mission was the longest distance flown for a combat mission at the time. Fifty-seven aviators aboard seven B-52 Stratofortress aircraft, carrying 244 tons of munitions took off toward their mission in the Middle East on January 16, 1991. At that time the destination, along with the weapons and very existence of this mission, was classified at the highest level. Little did the team know that they would play a major role in the opening strikes of Desert Storm. For more information, watch the video on the U.S. Air Force website.
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