Inside a stealth bomber's mission to takeout ISIS: How B-2 pilots flew 32-hours nonstop to drop thousand of pounds of bombs on terror camps in Libya
- Just days before Barack Obama left office, two B-2 stealth fighters carrying 80 precision-guided bombs were sent to Libya
- They flew from an air force base in Missouri, traveling 5,700 miles to its target
- The pilots bombed ISIS camps about 30 miles southwest of the coastal Libyan town of Sirte
- Pilots must combat fatigue on the gruelling mission which includes a lot of downtime and two mid-air refuelings
The United States dispatched two B-2 bombers to destroy two ISIS camps in the waning days of President Barack Obama's administration.
Dozens of ISIS operatives were said to have been killed in the bombing, which targeted the camps about 30 miles southwest of the coastal Libyan town of Sirte, according to CNN.
Now those who have piloted the stealth aircraft used in the mission describe what it's like to fly such a sortie.
It turns out that the grueling mission entails one continuous flight that spans 32 hours and 5,700 miles for the two men inside the cockpit of a B-2, according to Popular Mechanics.
Air Force crew prepare a B-2 bomber for takeoff at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri
'Every B-2 pilot on the base wanted to go on this mission,' an Air Force pilot identified only by the moniker 'Scorch' told Popular Mechanics.
'Myself included.'
Scorch is one of the pilots based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
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That is the base from which the two B-2 bombers took off just days before Obama would step down from the Oval Office.
The pilots flew all the way to Libya – a journey that entails two mid-air refueling operations – and return home to base without landing anywhere else or pausing for a break.
The pilots flew all the way to Libya – a 32-hour, 5,700-mile long journey that entails two mid-air refueling operations – and returned home to base without landing anywhere for a break
The stealth bombers are seen just before taking off for their bombing mission against ISIS camps in Libya
Each of the B-2 bombers carried 80 500-pound precision bombs guided by GPS satellite systems.
The bombs are so sophisticated that they could be programmed to explode when hitting 'a specific target, at a specific altitude, from a specific angle, at a specific time.'
The air force personnel charged with the painstaking task of preparing the flights and the mission pre-program the targets into the bombs.
The Libya mission required the B-2 bombers to unload the bombs in their arsenal and then wait overhead for an assessment of the damage.
If there is a target they missed, they fire again.
Each of the B-2 bombers carried 80 500-pound precision bombs guided by GPS satellite systems. Crews are seen above preparing the bombs for loading onto the aircraft
The US Air Force has just 20 of these B-2 stealth bomber planes.
The aircraft, which was produced by defense contractor Northrop Grumman, is priced at an estimated $737million per plane.
Initially built in order to avoid radar detection during Cold War-era missions, the B-2 is capable of dropping both convention as well as nonconventional bombs.
If necessary, pilots are given Dexedrine or other pills that place them on a rest cycle before their mission.
The cockpit includes a six-foot space where pilots set up a cot to sleep.
Behind the right seat is a stainless-steel bowl that serves as a toilet.
The US Air Force has just 20 of these B-2 stealth bomber planes. The aircraft, which was produced by defense contractor Northrop Grumman, is priced at an estimated $737million per plane
Initially built in order to avoid radar detection during Cold War-era missions, the B-2 is capable of dropping both convention as well as nonconventional bombs
It is its ability to drop thousands of pounds of explosives on a target at the same time that also makes it stand out from other aircraft.
To prepare for the flight, crews at the base begin acclimating the pilots to the rigorous schedule by apportioning nap times.
They also train the pilots in time management so that they have the proper balance of snack times and naps for periods of intense concentration.
The journey to Libya is a long one, but the monotony is broken up by mid-air refueling. The planes need to be refueled twice before they reach their target.
That task is left to KC-135 Stratotankers, which meet the B-2s in mid-air.
The stealth bombers come up behind the KC-135, which sends a long telescoping fueling boom with a fuel nozzle that pumps thousands of gallons of gasoline.
After the refueling, it's back to long hours of flying. The boredom often brings with it frayed nerves and fatigue.
To prepare for the flight, crews at the base begin acclimating the pilots to the rigorous schedule by apportioning nap times
The pilots try to keep themselves occupied, but they also need to save up their strength for the bombing run.
As the pilots reached their target, they released the bombs.
A Predator drone flies nearby to capture the scene on video.
The Libya mission was completed with just one run necessary.
Now the bomber was headed home – 18 hours until its destination.
With the adrenaline of the bombing having faded, pilots must now summon the strength to stay awake.
They must guide the aircraft through two more refuelling bouts before making their way to the Missouri base.
'There have been times when you had to pour me from that cockpit,' said one pilot who flew similar missions on a B-2.
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