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The 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, LA has its beginnings long before WWII. Originating back in 1918 as 1st Day Bombardment Group in France, the 1st was reorganized at Ellington Field, Texas from 1919 until 1922. In 1922, the 1st was renamed the 2nd Bombardment Group, at Langley Field, Virginia. In 1943, it was redesignated 2nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) (2 BW (H)), flying B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft in the Mediterranean. In 1950, 2 BW (H) moved to Chatham Air Force Base near Savannah, Georgia and flew B-50 Superfortress and B-47 Stratojet aircraft. In 1963, the 2 BW (H) moved to its current home, Barksdale, AFB, LA. Named Barksdale Field for 2nd Lieutenant Eugene Hoy Barksdale in 1933, Barksdale was a WWI aviator that was killed in a 1926 flight test accident in which his parachute tangled with a disabled aircraft during emergency egress. In early 1948 to mark the birth of the Air Force the year prior, it was renamed Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB).
Barksdale is the largest Strategic Air Command (SAC) base ever. Loring AFB (see Feelin’ BUFF 42: Key B-52 Wings—42nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy), Loring AFB, ME) was enormous at over 14,000 acres, but Barksdale easily eclipsed Loring at a staggering 22,000 acres; the “world’s largest airport” (at the time) began construction in 1931. Municipal bond sales purchased the land for $1,500,000 from a cotton plantation and some 800-plus property owners, which Shreveport then donated to the War Department. Following construction, the 3rd Attack Wing and the 20th Pursuit Group was assigned with A-12, A-17, P-12, P-26 and light bomber aircraft. Barksdale later became a flying training base before the breakout of WWII. More than a dozen training groups for B-24 Liberator, P-40 Warhawk and B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft among others were assigned at Barksdale over the course of the war until 1947. From 1945-1949, Barksdale became the headquarters for Air Training Command, and the US Air Force’s first jet bomber, the B-45 Tornado. 1 November 1949, the base fell under SAC control. The first SAC wing at Barksdale was the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing from 1949-1952. Training continued to be a primary mission for Barksdale, but added bombing missions under the 301st (1949-1958) and 376th (1951-1957) Bombardment Wings.
The BUFF era at Barksdale entered on 3 May 1958 as the 4238th Strategic Wing, when the B-52Fs and KC-135As arrived. The assets of 4238 SW became the 2nd Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 1 Apr 1963. In 1965, the F-models were swapped for B-52Gs, and in 1968, Barksdale became a “superwing” with a second B-52G squadron and a second tanker squadron. The BUFFs were taxed heavily during the Vietnam War; Barksdale was no exception to this. Between 1972 and 1973, all of Barksdale’s BUFFs were overseas dropping conventional bombs.
Another key part of Barksdale’s history is its National Stockpile Site (NSS), or “Q-Area” (so-named for the high level of security clearance required to enter). Barksdale’s Top Secret NSS was called “Bossier Base” was the sixth NSS (Site codenamed “Dog”) and opened in 1951. Organized under the 3095th Aviation Depot Group, (like the Operational Storage Sites) it had nearly self-contained support; a base within a base complete with a gym, library, dining facility and dorms. It had incredible security, electrified fences and underground secure “igloo” storage magazines. Existence of Bossier Base was so secretive the Barksdale Air Police (predecessors of Security Forces) didn’t know about it. The cat was let out of the bag about the site’s existence (although not its actual, classified function) in 1957. A few remnants of Bossier Base are still contained in the active Barksdale Munitions Storage Area.
A key Barksdale history note is that of the Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile, AGM-86/C (CALCM). This then highly-secretive, Global Positioning System-guided weapon was a conventional explosive derivative of the nuclear-capable version, the AGM-86/B and stockpiled in the dozens at Barksdale from about 1988. The CALCM’s moment to shine occurred in 1991 in which seven B-52Gs (call signed “Doom” flight) cumulatively loaded with 39 CALCM flew from Barksdale 16 February 1991 at mid-afternoon Baghdad time, flew across the ocean, including two air-refuelings, and followed the devastating waves of F-117 stealth fighters soon to make headlines. Launched some 100 miles from the Iraqi border, the missiles were flight programmed to arrive on target (eight targets are known) simultaneously. 35 AGM-86/Cs were launched that night, all but two were successful, and one bisected its aim point telephone pole, clearly demonstrating the missile’s accuracy. At the launch point, the BUFF crews were flying for 15 hours, and still had a long way to get home. Bad weather aloft led to air refueling difficulties, but some 35 hours after takeoff on 17 February, the BUFFs landed safely back at Barksdale. At the time, this was the longest combat mission in the USAF, only to be broken a decade later.
Another key note to Barksdale history was that of the Advanced Cruise Missile (AGM-129) (ACM). Nuclear-capable, stealthy and only ever deployed via B-52H model bombers, the missile had a significant advantage in range and survivability over the AGM-86/B Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM). The first missiles were delivered in the late 1980s, and fully deployed by 1993 with expected production to exceed 1400 missiles. The end of the Cold War cut defense budgets and capped production as under 500 missiles before all could be constructed. Long after the fall of the Soviet Union and the close of the Cold War, ALCM and ACMs soldiered on, providing America’s strategic standoff capability. The ACM was around triple the expense of the ALCM, harder to maintain, and this made the decision to retire it that much easier. Deployed only at B-52H wings, last bastion of the ACM was at Barksdale. When the ACM fleet was retired, the missiles were ferried to Barksdale for dismantlement.
Following the end of the Cold War, Barksdale began to focus increasingly on conventional airpower. Sometime after 2008, Barksdale lost its nuclear mission, but its BUFFs still project firepower across the globe.
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To find this cache, calculate the coordinates from the information in this listing.
N 48° AB.CDE W 101° FG.HIJ
A= Year 1st Day Bombardment Group was activated in France, XXXN, A=(N/4)
B= Year named Barksdale Field for 2nd Lieutenant Eugene Hoy Barksdale, XXXN, B=(Nx0)
C= Number of acres comprising Barksdale AFB, XN,XXX, C=(N-0)
D= Year Barksdale AFB became SAC controlled, XXXN, D=(N-3)
E= Year first B-52Fs arrived at Barksdale, XXNX, E=(N-2)
F= Year 2nd Bombardment Wing became “superwing” with twin BUFF and tanker squadrons, XXXN, F=(N/8)
G= Year top secret National Stockpile Site, “Bossier Base” was opened, XXXN, G=(N+8)
H= Year the “Bossier Base” publicized (although mission was still classified and unacknowledged) XXXN H=(Nx0)
I= Total number of CALCM launched on Iraq combat mission 16/17 February 1991, NX, I=(N+1)
J= Year ACM was fully deployed at B-52H wings, XXXN, J=(Nx2)
https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2015/10/26/history-bossier-base-revisited/74598278/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_Army_Airfield
https://www.barksdale.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Article/320180/2nd-bomb-wing/
http://www.strategic-air-command.com/bases/Barksdale_AFB.htm
http://www.strategic-air-command.com/wings/0002bw.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barksdale_Air_Force_Base
Dorr, R. & Peacock, L. (1995). Boeing’s Cold War Warrior: B-52 Stratofortress. London, UK; Osprey Aerospace.
https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/acm.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGM-129_ACM